The massacre of Wyoming in July, and the horrible cruelties practiced upon some of the prisoners, had caused grave apprehensions, and these were increased by the coming of Brandt and his Indians in October. Count Pulaski and his cavalry legion were sent to Minisink, and remained there during the winter of 1778-9, and Colonel Van Cortlandt's Regiment was sent to Wawarsing. In the spring Count Pulaski and his legion were ordered to South Carolina, and on July 19 Brandt, aware of the poorly defended Minisink, came with sixty-five Indian warriors and twenty-seven Tories disguised as Indians, to the lower section, now Deer Park, south of the Neversink and while the settlers were asleep set fire to several dwellings. Some of the inmates were killed as they were fleeing and others were taken prisoners. The cattle were driven off, and much booty carried to Brandt's headquarters, Grassy Brook, on the Delaware. When news of the murderous raid was received by the militia, a council was held by Lieutenant-Colonel Tusten of Colonel Allison's Goshen Regiment, Colonel John Hathorn of the Warwick Regiment, and Captain Meeker of the New Jersey militia, and contrary to Tusten's advice, it was decided to march against the Indians with such numbers of men as could be quickly brought together. Meanwhile Brandt's force had been increased to about 300 Indians, and 200 Tories painted to resemble Indians. The small band of militiamen, commanded by Colonel Hathorn, marched to the hills overlooking the Delaware near the mouth of the Lackawaxen, and then discovered Brandt and his warriors three-fourths of a mile away. Colonel Hathorn prepared to attack them, but Brandt outmaneuvered him, and cut off fifty of his men, leaving only ninety in the fight that followed. Brandt got in their rear, and hemmed them in on a rocky slope, with the advantages of position and more than five times as many men. When their ammunition was exhausted they formed in a hollow square to fight with clubbed muskets, but the square was soon broken and the men sought safety in flight. Tusten was killed by the Indians while dressing wounds of his men behind a rock, as were also seventeen wounded men with him. Others were shot or drowned in trying to swim across the Delaware. Only about thirty survived.
In Colonel Hathorn's report of the fight to Governor Clinton he says that "the enemy repeatedly advanced to from forty to one hundred yards distance and was as repeatedly repulsed"; that his men "defended the ground nearly three hours and a half and during the whole time one blaze without intermission was kept up on both sides." This was at the last stand on the slope. Hathorn's men had been firing for five hours, when, ammunition being almost exhausted, he ordered that no one fire "without having his object sure." Soon they were forced to retreat down the hill towards the river, and scattered, every man for himself. Colonel Hathorn further says:
"The Indians were under the command of Brandt, who was either killed or wounded in the action. They burnt Major Decker's house, barn and mill, James Van Vlock's house and barn, Daniel Vanoker's barn (here were two Indians killed from a little fort around the house, which was saved). Esquire Cuykindall's house and barn, Simon Westfall's house and barn, the church, Peter Cuykindall's house and barn; Martinus Decker's fort, house, barn and saw-mills, and Nehemiah Patterson's saw-mill; killed and scalped, Jeremiah Vanoker, Daniel Cole, Ephriam Ferguson and one Tavern, and took with them several prisoners, mostly children, with a great number of horses, cattle and valuable plunder. Some of the cattle we rescued and returned to the owners."
A list of the names of the killed has been preserved, and is as follows:
Killed in Minisink Fight.
There is a tradition that Joseph Brandt secretly visited the Minisink some time before his second invasion, and was cared for by a Tory, and thus became well informed of the condition of the region. Brandt was supposed to be a half-breed, with a German father, but later he was believed to be a pure Mohawk Indian. He was educated at Dartmouth College, and at the commencement of the Revolution received a British appointment as Colonel of the Six Nations. He was a Free Mason, but neither this nor a good education tamed his savage nature. Dr. Wilson said of him: "He was more cunning than the fox and fiercer than the tiger."
Detachments from Woodhull's, Allison's and Hathorn's Regiments were sent to guard the frontier, but Sullivan's expedition up the Susquehanna and to the Genesee Valley drew the attention of Brandt, and he and his Indians did not return.
The jails at Goshen and Kingston were filled with prisoners, but the local Tories continued to be troublesome, and some of them joined the British Army, while others made predatory excursions from retreats in the lower Highlands, covered by the British works at Stony Point and Fort Lee, and became a terror to the inhabitants.
The residents of this portion of the country and on down the Ramapo Valley were mostly Tories, and in this defile in that region known as the "Clove," the Tory Moody intercepted an express from Washington to Congress regarding an interview about the land and naval forces of France. This messenger was intended by Washington to be captured, and the news thus obtained caused the withdrawal of a portion of the forces under Cornwallis, rendering easier the capture of the latter at Yorktown. Claudius Smith and his sons, who had their headquarters in the Clove, were the boldest and most successful of its Tories. Smith was a large, powerful and shrewd man and while he committed many crimes and did many hazardous things, yet for a long time managed to escape capture. In October, 1778, Governor Clinton, enraged at Smith's depredations, offered a reward for his arrest and that of his two sons, Richard and James. Alarmed by this, Smith fled to Long Island, was recognized there, and seized in the night in bed. He was tried for one of his crimes at Goshen in January, 1779, and executed on the 22nd of the same month. Five of his associates were executed with him—Matthew Dolson, John Ryan, Thomas Delamar, John Gordon and Amy Angor. Retribution followed soon on all Smith's band. His son William was shot in the mountains, and his son James was probably executed in Goshen soon after his father, with James Flewelling and William Cole. Silas Gardner, however, who was tried and sentenced as a Tory, was pardoned, but the rest were slain or driven from the country. Claudius Smith commenced his depredations in the interest of the British in 1776, and first appeared on the public records, charged with stealing, in 1777. He was confined in the Kingston jail, and transferred from there to the Goshen jail, from which he escaped. He was said to be the friend of the poor, giving liberally to them of what he stole from the rich. Many exciting stories were told of his doings.
One of the most brilliant exploits of the war was the night assault on Stony Point, twelve miles below West Point, and now a State reservation in Rockland County. This was on July 16-17, 1779. It had been occupied by British troops since Clinton's expedition up the Hudson in 1777, and was regarded as almost impregnable. "Mad" Anthony Wayne headed the enterprise, and it was carried out in substantial accordance with a general plan which had been suggested by General Washington. The fort was garrisoned by 700 men, who had fifteen pieces of artillery on the heights. Their surprise was complete, and the capture quickly accomplished. The American loss was 15 killed and 83 wounded; that of the British 63 killed, 61 wounded and 575 made prisoners, only one of the garrison managing to escape. The works were destroyed and the place evacuated. In July, 1779, the British reoccupied it, and began to build defenses, but were soon withdrawn because of the coming of the French fleet, and the Americans took possession and began restoring the fortifications.
Arnold's treason was discovered Sept. 23d, 1780, and Stony Point was included in the fortifications which he intended to betray. His treason, his conference with Major Andre below Stony Point, Andre's stay at Hett Smith's house, his capture at Tarrytown and brief confinement at West Point, Arnold's flight and Andre's trial and execution, are too familiar to the readers of American history to require recapitulation here.
John Devon
Notwithstanding other ostensible causes, it was really necessary to complete the independence of the United States, only partly effected by the War of the Revolution, that the War of 1812 should be begun and fought out. Great Britain claimed the right to search American ships, impress American seamen into her service, and make prizes of all American vessels going to or from France or her allies which did not clear from or touch English ports. France issued retaliatory decrees which were more damaging to America than England. They declared that its vessels which had touched English ports or submitted to be searched by an English ship should be the property of France, and that English goods, wherever found, should be subject to confiscation. Thus endangered by the policy of both nations, Congress in 1809 declared an embargo prohibiting American vessels from sailing from foreign ports, and foreign ships from carrying away American cargoes—a law which virtually suspended our commerce and exposed our merchants to the risks of bankruptcy. England gave notice to the President that her claims before stated would be adhered to, and Congress, seeing no other means of redress, formally declared war on June 18, 1812.
Orange County citizens had given expression to their views on the embargo act in March, 1800. A Republican county convention held at Goshen selected General Hathorn as its chairman, and a committee on resolutions was appointed consisting of Jonathan Fisk, Colonel John Nicholson, General Reuben Hopkins and Judge Nathan White. The resolutions reported and adopted asserted that the American embargo was "a wise and patriotic measure, imperiously demanded by the exposed condition of our seamen, shipping and trade to the audacious outrages of foreign powers." In the Federal party's county convention, held later, Daniel Niven was chairman, and its committee on resolutions consisted of John Barber, Alexander R. Thompson, Alanson Austin, John Bradner, J. N. Phillips, John Morrison, John Duer, Samuel Saver, James Storey, Solomon Sleight, John Decker and Samuel B. Stickney. The resolutions protested against the enforcement of the embargo, as "unjust, illegal and oppressive, subversive of the rights and dangerous to the liberties of the people."
But when the war came the views of many of the Federalists had changed, and they sustained the Government.
The first call for troops was made April 21, 1812, when the militia was arranged in two divisions and eight brigades, and the brigades were divided into twenty regiments. The second brigade of the first division, embracing the militia of Orange and Ulster, under Brigadier General Hopkins of Goshen, was organized as the Fourth Regiment, and its Commander was Lieutenant Colonel Andrew J. Hardenburgh of Shawangunk. In 1813 and 1814, Lieutenant Colonel Isaac Belknap took the place of Lieutenant Colonel Hardenburgh. The cavalry and artillery were similarly organized.
The second call was made in July, 1813, and the third in July, 1814, when the places of rendezvous were Newburgh and New Windsor, and from these the men were moved on sloops to New York and assigned to the neighboring fortifications. They embarked Aug. 28, and returned Dec. 4, having been absent only a little more than three months.
Among the uniformed companies at that time were the following: Orange Hussars of Montgomery, Captain William Trimble (succeeded by Captain Milliken); Captain Van Orsdal's and Captain Dorcas's companies of infantry of Montgomery; Captain Kerr's company of artillery of New Windsor; Captain Butterworth's company of artillery of Newburgh; Captain Westcott's company of cavalry of Goshen; Captain Acker's company of cavalry of Newburgh and Marlborough; Captain Denniston and Captain Birdsall's companies of infantry of Newburgh.
It appears that Captain Westcott was afterwards appointed Major of the first regiment of cavalry, when Charles Lindsay was made captain of his company; Joseph H. Jackson, first lieutenant; Daniel McNeal, second lieutenant, and Stephen P. Rockefellow, cornet, all being residents of Montgomery except Major Westcott.
Wawayanda Patent
In the fall of 1812, Captain Denniston of the "Republican Blues" enlisted about fifty volunteers to serve one year or during the war, and they elected Jonathan Gidney captain. They formed part of a detached regiment of riflemen of which Captain Denniston became major and afterwards colonel.
A part of a company from Wallkill was included in Colonel Hardenburgh's Ulster regiment, which went to Plattsburgh and thence to Fort Hamilton, near the Canada line, for guard duty.
The following roll of a detached company in Colonel Michael Smith's regiment of infantry, mustered in in September, 1814, embraces men from both Orange and Ulster Counties:
Roll of Detached Company.
Orange County was represented in the Navy by Silas H. Stringham, Charles Ludlow and Robert C. Ludlow, among others. Robert Ludlow was on the "Constitution" when she captured the "Java," and Augustus C. Ludlow as a lieutenant distinguished himself as a hero in the action of the "Chesapeake" with the "Shannon."
After the British captured Washington in 1814, a public meeting was held in Goshen, August 30, to consider the propriety of repairing the fortifications at West Point or erecting new ones for public defense. General James W. Wilson was chairman of the meeting, and a committee to devise and report plans was composed of John Duer, Jonathan Fisk, William Ross, John W. Wilkin, George D. Wickham, James Finch, Jr., and Nathan H. White. They reported at an adjourned meeting, and recommended the following committee of defense, which was appointed:
For Minisink, John Bradner, Nathan Arnot; Deer Park, John Finch, Jr., Joseph Baird; Wallkill, Henry B. Wisner, Benjamin Woodward; Goshen, John Duer, Freegift Tuthill; Warwick, Dr. Samuel S. Seward, Jeffrey Wisner; Monroe, James D. Secor, Benjamin Cunningham; Cornwall, William A. Clark, Joseph Chandler, Jr.; Blooming Grove, Col. Selah Strong, Jeremiah Horton; Montgomery, John Blake, Jr., Johannes Miller; Newburgh, John D. Lawson, Jacob Powell; New Windsor, Joseph Morton, David Hill.
This Committee of Defense met September 7, and made Selah Strong its chairman and John Duer its secretary. It passed resolutions in harmony with those of the public meeting, and appointed the chairman, the secretary, William A. Clark, Joseph Morell and Johannes Miller a committee to tender the services of citizens in repairing the West Point fortifications. At another meeting, September 17, the committee instructed the town committees immediately to collect subscriptions of money and labor, and report them to the General Committee, and also inquire into and report the quantity of arms and ammunition which the respective towns might need.
October 25 it was reported from the Secretary of War that he would send a skillful engineer to West Point "to superintend the works and point out the sites most eligible for defense."
Little was done, however, at West Point, but military companies of exempts were organized in several towns.
The glad news of the treaty of peace, concluded in December, 1814, was celebrated in every town of the county with great enthusiasm, and included illuminations, cannon firing, speeches, toasts, and thanksgiving services in the churches.
Peace with other nations continued from the close of the War of 1812 until the war with Mexico, 1846-8. For this war New York City regiments drew a number of volunteers from Orange, but only one company was recruited in the county, and this was in Goshen, and it became Co. K of the 10th Regiment U. S. Infantry. Its captain was Alexander Wilkin and its lieutenant, Francis M. Cummins. Captain Wilkin resigned in April, 1848, and Lieutenant Cummins was promoted to the captaincy. The regiment with this company was attached to the Army of the Rio Grande under General Taylor.
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.
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.
At Newport News they went into camp on a large plantation, waited for the rest of the army a few days, and marched with it to Yorktown. Here the men on picket line were almost constantly under fire, and all were kept in a fever of excitement by the roar of cannon and cracks of rifles along the whole line from river to river, day and night.
The first real baptism of fire experienced by the 56th was on April 16th, when a large force of the enemy came out and fell on the left of the division near Lee's Mills. The rebels were repulsed, and the officers commended the men of the regiment for their courage and steadiness under fire. May 5th they had more fighting experience after a swift march of the day before to the front of Fort McGruder in the suburbs of Williamsburgh. Here they took part in a charge on their enemies with fixed bayonets, which caused the latter to flee in confusion leaving many dead and wounded and about 600 prisoners. They remained in line of battle all night, standing in deep mud, and drenched by a drizzling rain. When, the next afternoon, they were each given three biscuits of hardtack it was the first food they had eaten in two days, and ended the first experience of intense gnawing hunger with the most of them. May 9th they followed the retreating rebels over roads deep with mud, exchanging shots with them day after day, sleeping on the ground at night, wading streams waist-deep sometimes, with little to eat, and much of the time only what they could jayhawk. May 19th they drove the enemy across the Chickahominy at a point opposite Richmond, and as all the bridges had been destroyed, waded the next day across the Oozy river without much opposition, and waited for the rest of the corps, which followed in three days, and crossed the river on a bridge which had meanwhile been constructed for them. During the next three days the regiment was kept on the move making reconnaissances and scouting, and scouted to within four miles of the city of Richmond.
May 28th the 56th found itself assigned with Casey's division to a position on the right of the Williamsburgh turnpike, remained on picket till sometime after the attack of the 31st and captured a number of the enemy's skirmishers. Later, when the two lines of battle were formed, it was placed to support Spratt's battery, but the battery's captain relieved it and left the division lying on the ground exposed to the plunging fire of the enemy's artillery, which killed the men "at a fearful rate." They then formed in the edge of the woods, and there fought two hours, and Colonel Van Wyck was wounded in the leg by a piece of shell. The division that day opposed a force of 30,000, and held the line. Three times the enemy charged to within reach of their bayonets, and each time was driven back. The division made one of the most bloody and obstinate fights of the war, and lost nearly half of its men, but, it was believed, saved the army of the Potomac from great disaster.
Then to Malvern Hill. On July 1 the division, after a tedious march, lay down on the hill near a large house, and there all day witnessed the cannonading of 160 Union guns, expecting every moment to be ordered to assist in the frequent fierce assaults made by the Army of Virginia in three divisions, "only to be torn in pieces and hurled back again to the cover of the woods by the awful storm of shot and shell and volleys of the infantry supports." But the brigade was not moved from its reserved position until late in the afternoon, when it was sent to the southern slope of the hill, and on the 2nd acted as rear guard of the whole retreating army, being in charge of the artillery and wagon trains. The enemy's advance attacked it at Carter's Hill, but was repulsed. The next day breastworks were thrown up, and the army rested. On July 7th the men were cheered by a visit and praise from President Lincoln. It was thought that the army would move forward and capture Richmond, but General McClellan received orders to withdraw by way of Aquia Creek and attack Richmond from the Rappahannock. The Chickahominy was crossed October 16 in weather so hot that large numbers of the officers and men dropped by the wayside exhausted, and that night when the regiment bivouacked not more than 100 men stacked arms, and hardly an officer except the mounted ones was with them. Key's corps, including the 56th Regiment, was left at Yorktown to cover the embarkation. The Peninsula campaign was ended.
General Naglee's brigade remained in and about Yorktown for sometime, doing picket duty and demolishing earthworks. On December 11 it went on a raid into Gloucester, Kings and Queens Counties, and brought back horses, mules, cattle, sheep and fowls. The brigade marched all night closely followed by the enemy, the 56th doing excellent service as the rear guard. On December 29th the brigade embarked on steamer for Morehead City, N. C., and went from there to Newbern, near which it remained two weeks. On January 8, 1863, orders were read informing the men of the 56th that their regiment had been attached to the 18th Corps, 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, with General Naglee as division commander, and Colonel Davis of the 104th Pa. as the brigade commander. General Naglee, on taking leave, issued an order naming the important events in the history of the brigade in which it acted a conspicuous part, and which should be inscribed upon the regimental banners. The 56th was included in all of them.
General Naglee also characterized the work and behavior of the brigade in each of the events.
In connection with the preparations to attack Charleston the brigade went to St. Helena Island and waited there until about April 1st. Thence to woods near the shore of Edisto Harbor, where monitors and gunboats lay at anchor, and covered its landing by shelling the woods. After landing it followed the retreating enemy, and some of the men were wounded. While in camp here it was several times attacked in night forays and some of its picket men captured. Here the 56th was temporarily brigaded with that of General Howell in General Terry's division, under General Gilmore of the Tenth Corps. On July 16th, this division, 4,000 strong, was attacked by a superior force of Georgia troops, but with the aid of the gunboats they were driven off with a loss of 200 prisoners. Soon afterward the division went to Folly Island, and here, while the bombardment of Forts Wagner and Gregg was in progress, the men were engaged in arduous duties and got but little rest. August 16 they sailed to Beaufort, S. C., and went into camp, with the regiment sadly reduced in numbers and many sick. They remained there till September 3, 1864, with the exception of an expedition to John's Island in July.
In February, 1864, the regiment veteranized,{sic} the most of the men re-enlisting, and was mustered in as a veteran regiment February 29. In March it went north on a furlough and returned May 18, commanded by Colonel Tyler. During its stay at Beaufort about 400 new men had been recruited for it by officers sent north. The regiment went from Beaufort to John's Island, near Charleston, July 1st, and here became a part of J. P. Hatch's division. On July 4th it had the most trying march of the year on account of the extreme heat and the soft sand. Many of the men were sun-struck, and some of them died. The march was continued the next morning to within seven miles of Charleston, when, hearing that rebel cavalry were in their rear, they were ordered back. The next day they started again for the front, and had to do some fighting. July 9th they were attacked by the rebels in force in a dense fog. A surprise was intended, but the rebels were met with volleys of grape and canister, and were twice repulsed. On July 10th, the regiment went back to Beaufort, and the St. John's expedition passed into history. It was regarded as the most exciting and perilous scouting expedition the regiment was ever engaged in, but its object was accomplished. It remained at Beaufort until September 3, when it moved over to Morris Island and assisted in the siege of Charleston. Here the men could see every shot from their batteries that struck Fort Sumter, and the firing was kept up night and day. The heat was extreme, the whole island was covered with shifting sand, which filled eyes, ears and hair, the heavy fogs at night were like a drenching rain, and all the while they were under the fire of the rebel forts and batteries, shells from which burst over their heads; but they had the compensation of seeing their own shells burst in the city of Charleston.
Many of the men became afflicted with scurvy, and the effective force of the regiment was reduced to 600 men, one-half of whom were detailed each day and night for field duty. Otherwise their duties were severe, and in October the nights became very cold, and, being without fuel, caused them much suffering. They remained there until November 27, when they were taken to Boyd's Point, and the next morning were marched by General Potter toward Honey Hill, where they were surprised by a concealed rebel battery, and there was a bloody fight in which the 56th lost fifty men in killed and wounded, and the division 746, and they were obliged to fall back. On December 3d the brigade, after a lively skirmish, returned to its old camp, and three days later went up Broad River to Deveaux Neck, near which it had many of its men killed and wounded in a severe fight. The next day it was attacked by a large force, and there was a bloody fight in which each man fired sixty rounds and the rebels were repulsed, but resisted stubbornly and retired slowly. In this battle the 56th encountered the 5th Georgia Regiment, drove it from its position, captured its colors, and lost twenty-four men in killed and wounded.
The camp was thirty-six miles north of Savannah and seventy from Charleston. December 23d the news came that General Sherman had occupied Savannah. On the 29th Colonel Tyler was put in command of three regiments, including the 56th, and they advanced to ascertain the strength of the enemy. They encountered his picket line which resisted but fell back, and killed and wounded seventeen of Tyler's men. The camp was undisturbed until January 7th, when a rifled gun began shelling them and kept it up for a week, night and day. This was not restful, but the camp was so sandy that not more than half the percussion shells burst, and not a man was injured by them. January 15th it was discovered that the rebels had left, and our men pushed on and took possession of Fort Coosawhatchie. Here the rations were greatly improved by foraging expeditions. On the 17th they were visited by Generals Sherman and Howard. On the 29th the 56th remained at the fort while the rest of the brigade left to relieve General Sherman's forces at Poctaligo. The 56th did not join it until February 16, and afterward the brigade made a slow march to Ashley River, across which lay Charleston, arriving there February 28. The city had been evacuated after the cotton warehouses, quartermasters' stores, bridges, vessels, etc., had been burnt by order of General Hardie. March 1st the division started to pursue him, and if possible prevent him from joining General Johnston's army. It marched several days without finding any rebels, then was ordered to return and was back in Charleston on the 9th. This expedition, composed of General Potter's entire division, had marched ninety miles. It went on March 11th to the village of Mt. Pleasant, near Charleston, and remained there until April 2nd, when it went to Georgetown. Major Eliphas Smith being in command of companies A, B, C, D and E of the 56th. A and B remained in Georgetown as a part of the garrison. C was sent as guard of a transport up the Santee River, and E and D were attached to the 157th regiment, and went with it on the "Kingsville expedition." Kingsville was about 135 miles from Georgetown, and the rebels had run in there from points on Sherman's march as many as 25 locomotives and 200 cars, with large quantities of stores and ammunition. After a troublesome march, with some hard fighting, the expedition reached Kingsville April 10. On the 9th companies B and D of the 56th had gallantly charged a rebel battery, in the face of a fusillade, and captured it, but with a loss in killed and wounded of fifteen men.