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| 76th Regiment battle flag |
The Cortland News, Friday, October 20, 1882.
OLD 76th REGIMENT N. Y. VOLS.
ANNUAL ADDRESS BY REV. O. H. McANULTY.
Mr. Chairman, Survivors of the
76th Regiment, Ladies and Gentlemen:
In addressing you this afternoon it shall be my purpose to notice
somewhat in detail the personnel
of the Union army—particularly that of the army of the Potomac, and the occasion is opportune. A
regiment is comparatively a small factor where half a million men are capped with
the crest and plume of war.
A regiment might be annihilated and like a cup of water dipped from the wide flowing
river, its loss be scarcely perceptible. And yet an army has a
character, and that character is formed not so much by its knowledge of
superior tactics, nor by him alone who marshals its ranks for battle, but by
the personnel of the Individuals who compose its rank and file. It makes a vast
difference when the supreme hour of an engagement or of a campaign has come
whether the soldiers are men, animate flesh, or in the truest sense of the word
men. The time has passed
when righteous honor can be claimed by a mercenary troop or by those whose
hands are denied with the empty glory of conquest or of rapine.
After due allowance for exceptional instances have been made, it may be truly said that no body of men separated from the wholesome influences of home and church ever brought back from a protracted war a cleaner escutcheon than they who carried the Federal arms. And, thank God, veterans, you were never detailed to patrol a Libby or an Andersonville.
Nor is this due to the fact that your army
life was subjected to rigid surveillance. The Union army in its general
character was not made up of mere adventurers who went out to see what might
turn up, nor of vagrants and makeshifts who found war their only door to a livelihood,
but of the best sons of the best blood of the land. It is an egregious error to
imagine that quantity and not quality go to make up an efficient army.
It is equally false to assume that mere
brute bravado and fierceness are necessary elements in the character of the
soldier. This was illustrated in a regiment recruited in New York city, called,
if I remember correctly, "Billy Wilson's Zouaves." Here was a regiment
composed exclusively of bruisers, shoulder-hitters, pugilists arid the like,
and many had high expectations of what these would accomplish, But, the
qualities these men gloried in were not such as to fit them for efficient soldiers.
Ah, no, heroes must be made of sterner stuff. It was those who came from
avocations of thrift, peace and quiet; the men who came from farm, and shop,
and counter, and office; the men who left parents bowed with age and sorrow,
who left wives and little ones; men who had the strong ties of self-interest
and affection to hold them back; these it was who made the best soldiers the
age has known. But what went these for? Gain? No! Glory? No! Spoil? No! Defense? No! From principle. An ancient skeptic has declared
"all a man hath will he give for his life,"
and modern pessimists assert that man is radically and incurably selfish. But here
were men who gave emphatic denial to all such philosophy.
Be it remembered, too, that the attitude of
the South was not primarily that of invasion into the North. At the beginning
the South demanded the separation of the Union. The North said, no! and her
sons went forth to sustain and perpetuate a
government by the people. The principle at
stake was whether the central government should retain its authority over all the people. The South went to war
for what they conceived their own local interests. The North wanted no separate central government of their
own. They had no local interests to fight for. For they had none at stake. They fought for what they conceived to be
the right, and men who could face the disaster and destructiveness of the
bloodiest four years' war the world ever witnessed solely for the sake of the
right could not come from communities of ignorance and vice. An intelligent conscience
must actuate them, nothing but a land of Sabbaths and schoolhouses could rally
such an army or keep it in the field.
Again, the observations of the older
monarchical governments were to the effect that our American government was an
experiment and not an established reality. It was not strange then that all
Europe looked eagerly to see what next when the echo of Sumter's cannon reached its
shores. The promptness and enthusiasm with which the North responded to
President Lincoln's call was a surprise to them. But then came the prediction that,
like sugar snow in March, this hastily collected army would melt away in the first
heat of conflict. And with good reason was the prediction made, for was it not
the profound philosophy of the old countries that an improvised army was worth
nothing in protracted war and that to have an army for long and severe
campaigns it must be a standing
army and long inured to discipline and danger? And could not Lord Russell, as mouth-piece, say, when
the news of the first Bull Run reached Washington, “I told you so!" But alas for
Lord Russell and the prediction, our brave boys wrote the parody in letters
never to be effaced that "He who fought and ran away did live to fight another day."
As I shall have occasion to refer to it again it will be sufficient here to remark that the soldiers were not the cause of either of the defeats at Bull Run. The adage, "In time of peace prepare for war," has met its stoutest refutation within our time. For as the sun of the 23d of May, 1865, rose upon the capital city of the nation it looked down upon the grand review of as brave and thoroughly disciplined an army as ever graced the historic battle-fields of the world.
You will pardon the prolixity if I refer to
another thing in this connection. For be it borne in mind, our form of
government was an experiment until
the war proved it a reality. "Ah, but wait," said a doubting
foreigner;" wait until the war has ended and your army disbanded and there
will pour into your cities and villages a flood of soldiers hardened by scenes
of carnage who will overwhelm you with pillage and blood." I am not
guessing now. This was the profound belief of many wise-acres on the other side
of the ocean. But did ever a large body of men disperse more quietly? That
there were scalawags who found their way Into the army no one disputes. But the
dissolution of the mighty force so recently in line of battle produced no appreciable
injurious effect upon community, and except that the old home was gladdened again
by their presence, and farm, and shop, and office again felt the pulse of added
activity one would scarce have realized that the end was reached.
I come now to speak of the supreme test of
the character of the Union arms, and I shall have time only to treat of the
army of the Potomac of which the gallant 76th formed a conspicuous part. The
true test of character is found not in success but in defeat. It requires no
great force of mind to bear up amid the minor eddying currents when our bark is
making swift and sure headway. Nor does it require strong determination to bear
up under an occasional mishap. But when defeat follows defeat in swift succession
then the inferiority or superiority of character discloses itself. The army of
the Potomac was tried as no brave set of men ever were. As we review their
history we wonder that the whole army did not mutiny. Never did soldiers merit
more the success which was constantly being lost in the very moment of victory.
No impartial student can excuse the defeats at Manassas. Each time the fault
was clearly traceable to those high in command. Judging from the character of
the rank and file the war ought to have ended long before it did.
From Gainesville to Gettysburg—beginning
with the active life of the 76th—there was little to inspire the men and
everything to dishearten. There were three causes that conspired to this:
(1) The old granny who kept warm and dry in
Washington known as Gen. Halleck. It is true that the government had some
things to learn by experience. But alas for experience that has to come by
vivisection, and alas for scientific vivisection when its victim is the noble
soldiers of the army of the Potomac. Nor do I cast a shadow of blame upon that
magnificent production of American possibilities, the sainted Abraham Lincoln.
No man’s heart bled as did his for the sufferings and sorrows of the soldiers. But
it was the fault of the judgment of the government that one so incapacitated to
direct the movements of the armies East and West, as was ultimately
demonstrated, should so long have been permitted to intermeddle. Up to the last year of
the war the Generals in the field were more or less embarrassed or crippled by
his interference.
(2) Another cause was the envy and dilatoriness
of the commanding officers. And this was in no wise concealed from the men.
With a devotion worthy of better appreciation and leaders the army for long
months and campaigns had to submit to defeat after defeat while the highest often
squabbled for the post of glory. Life and blood seemed to be of small moment in
the eyes of those whose chief ambition was their own. The war ought to and
would have ended before it did had it not been for the want of sympathy and
co-operation among division commanders. Another matter I am constrained to speak of.
For many of us are not so young as to have no recollection here. Many high
salaried officers desired the prolongation of the war. The people, generous to
a fault when the life of the nation hung in the balance, spared no treasure that would contribute
to ultimate success. But
alas for the truth! Some who could expect no such remuneration in the event of peace as in the field were
satisfied for the straggle to protract itself indefinitely. Some have unjustly blamed President Lincoln
for this but it would have
required a person of almost omniscient and omnipresent ability to have known and corrected this
evil.
(3) The third cause was the inability of
those who in turn assumed the chief command. Through long weary
months that grew into years the soldiers fought and fell with little hope for a
brighter dawning. The battles of South Mountain and Antietam never brought the results the army merited. The rebel army ought to have been utterly routed and
cut to pieces before it left Maryland. But both of these engagements were
barren victories because they were not followed to completion. Fredricksburg
and Chancellorsvllle! Who that was susceptible to the high fever of the nation
can forget these bloody fields! And next was the chill shudder as the sacred
soil of Pennsylvania trembled with the tread of the invader. If we take its
history from the beginning to the close the impartial critic must voice the
sentiment that the army of the Potomac was better than any commander it ever
had.
I have thus gone into detail that the more youthful
part of my audience may have some understanding of the two armies that
confronted each other at Gettysburg. The Rebel army was blessed with the unanimity of its leaders and covered
with the laurels of successive victories. The army of the Potomac no longer
thought of "on to Richmond," but as in the last attitude of despair
threw itself between the invader and Washington.
Dallied with innumerous engagements, defeated
at Fredricksburg and Chancellorsville, it came now to the trial battle of the war.
Here was the test. One army flushed high with success, the other covered with
defeat. It is well known among military men that the spirit of an army has much
to do with its achievements! Vividly do I recall that day, a mere youth though
I was. The Rebel army within 200 miles of my home!
Well and grandly was that battle fought. The
heroic band gathered upon the hills about that village overcame their own
depressed spirits and dealt the death-blow to their enemies. All honor to the
remnant of that heroic band, the tried and true 76th. Thrice be honor to those
who fired the first gun of that memorable three days' conflict. And when one
after another they have gone the way of all flesh may their exalted devotion, patriotism
and heroism shine with unwonted lustre in the galaxy of the truly great.
Brave and venerable men! Though we cannot call
back your comrades fallen upon many a fierce fought field, we, as citizens of
Cortland county and better still as citizens of the Union marred but not
severed, bear to you the profound gratitude of our hearts. May you have many
happy returns of your reunion, and may it be your consolation and pride to know
that you have not suffered unappreciated and in vain. But when for the last
time your eyes shall be greeted with bright folds of your country's flag, may
it bring assurance that the cause with which you have been so closely identified—the cause of liberty and
humanity—is fulfilling its highest destiny.
There are wrongs grievous and high-handed
that need to be righted. "Peace hath her victories no less renowned than
war." May it be ours to gather new inspiration to our patriotism from this
hour and pledge ourselves under that God who has ever brought the right to
ultimate triumph when upheld by devoted earnest hearts to wage unceasing, uncompromising warfare with every form of evil seeking to sap the foundations
upon which our fair Republic rests—the foundations of unity and purity and
Christianity.
The following are names of members of the
76th who were present at the reunion at McGrawville on the 4th inst:
A. P. Smith, Job Norwood, Amos Avery, W. L.
Bishop, W. M. Sweet, D. R. Montgomery, W. M. Elwood, H. H. Howe, B. F. Eaton.
N. W. Smith, N. G. Brown, Lucius Davis, Henry Holmes, E. R. Hulbert, G. W.
Lason, C. M. Maycumber, Geo. W. Smith, J. J. Isaacs, H. R. Butman, G. N. Shaw,
J. S. Knapp, A. Hollenbeck, John Henry, D. Dimon, John Barnes, D. P. Griswold,
J. R. Birdlebough, Delos Cole, Jos. Miles, D. C. Beers, D. W. Carpenter, H. G. Warner,
D.W. Arnold, J. C. Potter, Henry Cliff, T. Guernsey, P. W. Chafey, L. Corl, E.
A. Burnham, W. J. Mantanye, N. G. Harmon, W. E. Evans, J. D. Clyde. R. G.
Davidson, Philip Beiber, E. A. Meade, Lloyd Culver, S. M. Byram, John Thornton,
H. J. Holden, C. W. Hutchings, A. W. Pierce, B. Button, J. E. Parce, M. M. Whitney,
F. F. Pratt, G. Z. Pulling, F. Schermerhorn, S. Rindge, A. Sager, Frank Arnold,
B. F. Taylor, G. W. Steele, J. E. Cook, W. S. Walcott, S. E. Saunders, B.
Fuller, J. L. Goddard, C. H. Smith, J. L. Cotton, G. M. DeWitt, M. Edgcomb, W.
H. Myers, W. H. Williams, O. P. Miner, Uriah Hutchings, F. A. Garlick, P. Pierce, J. W. Roe,
Jr., Reuben Risley, F. S. Deuell, J. P. Newell, John Thornton.
The above list is not complete, as several
failed to register.
We should have stated in our report last
week that P. H. McGraw & Son's corset factory was closed in the afternoon that
the employees might attend the reunion, and that it was largely owing to the
Messrs. McGraw that the entertainment was so excellent and so successfully
carried out.
Many of the veterans remained at McGrawville
to attend a festival held there in the evening. They reported a very pleasant
dance, and that the proceeds amounted to about one hundred dollars, which was
for the benefit of the McGrawville band, whose excellent music added greatly to
the enjoyment of the reunion.
FEARFUL RAILROAD
ACCIDENT.
The Syracuse papers give an account of an
unusually dreadful railroad accident which happened at Geddes, near that city Saturday
afternoon, by which Mrs. H. B. Comstock and Mrs. L. A. Burgess, sisters, of
Marathon, and Mrs. John Mallonee, of Syracuse, were
instantly killed, and Mr. Mallonee seriously injured. The first two went to
Syracuse that morning to visit their niece, Mrs. Mallonee, formerly Grace
Sherwood, and in the afternoon were out riding, when in crossing the Central
railroad track on Genesee street, the carriage was struck by the Chicago
Express, which was running at a high rate of speed, and thrown high in the air
and shattered to pieces, one of the horses was killed, the occupants hurled
about forty feet and down an embankment. There was no flagman at the crossing,
and the train was running at least three times the rate of speed allowed by
law. The remains of Mrs. Comstock and Mrs. Mallonee were buried at Marathon on
Tuesday, and of Mrs. Burgess, formerly Mrs. Burst, of this village, in the
Cortland cemetery. Mrs. Comstock's age was 71; Mrs. Burgess, 63; Mrs. Mallonee,
26. [A lengthy, successful lawsuit for damages followed this tragedy—CC
editor.]
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