 |
| Faded colors of the Seventy-sixth New York Volunteers. |
 |
| Maj. Andrew J. Grover. |
 |
| Gettysburg monument. |
 |
| Lt. Martin Edgcomb. |
 |
| A. P. Smith. |
SEVENTY-SIXTH
REGIMENT.
ROUSING
PUBLIC MEETING AND OLD-TIME CAMPFIRE.
Full List
of Survivors in Attendance with Their Ages—Resolutions of Thanks.
The public meeting of the Seventy-sixth
Regimental association was held at the Opera House at 2 P. M. President A. P.
Smith was in the chair. The following was the program of exercises:
Music, Cortland City Band.
Prayer, Rev. C. E. Hamilton.
Selection—The Veteran's Last Song, in memory
of Gen. Logan, Mrs. Geo. B. Miller.
Opening Remarks, President Smith.
Address of Welcome, Hon. J. E. Eggleston
Response, B. T. Wright, Esq., one Hundred
and Twenty-first New York Volunteers.
Army Song—McGrawville Quartet.
Recitation—Maid of the Mill, Miss Aletta
Bridgeford; Encore, Her Preference.
Address N. L. Miller.
Army Song—Red, White and Blue, McGrawville
Quartet.
Recitation.
Music, Cortland City Band.
Memorial resolutions for deceased comrades.
Short memorial addresses in response to
resolutions.
Music, McGrawville Quartet.
The memorial resolutions adopted were as
follows:
WHEREAS, In the deaths of Comrades Joseph
Miles of Co. D.; 1st Sergt. Hiram G. Warner, Co. B.; Sergt. Laverne E. Teeter,
Co. C.; Jas. D. Wilmarth, Co. B.; Marcus B. Bennie, Co. C.; Edward Stone, Co.
C.; Chas S. Matteson, Co. K.; Wm. B. Bennett, Co D.; we are admonished of the
fact that in the natural course of events we are approaching a period in the history
of our association when year by year the death rate will steadily increase until
the last remnant shall have passed away,
Resolved, That while we mourn the
loss of our departed comrades we will cherish their memory. The recollection of
the patriotism which led them take up arms in defense of our flag and imperiled
country will be to us an assurance that they have gone to their reward.
Resolved, That we extend to the bereaved relatives and friends of our fallen comrades
our sincere and heartfelt sympathy and commend them to Him who doeth all things
well.
Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be forwarded to the families of our deceased
comrades.
A. SAGER,
S. M. BYRAM,
M. EDGCOMB.
Committee.
Resolutions of thanks to the McGrawville Glee
club, to the band, to the speaker, to Grover Post, G. A. R., to the Woman's
Relief Corps, to the ladies who rendered the recitations, etc. and to the people
of Cortland, were adopted.
The campfire in the G. A. R. rooms in the
evening was a most enjoyable affair, made more so by being very informal. The
first part of the evening was spent over quite an elaborate menu prepared by
the Woman's Relief Corps. The fact that the supper was served by them is
sufficient guaranty of its excellence. A quartet of horns furnished music.
At 9:30 o'clock all adjourned to the parlor
below, where even standing room was at a premium. Judge A. P. Smith presided as
toast master. In making a brief introductory speech Judge Smith stated that he
was delighted to be called upon to uncork the eloquence which he saw bubbling
from many of the individuals present. The responses to the toasts were made
more entertaining by being impromptu.
The following toasts and responses were
given. They composed amusing, pathetic and patriotic army stories and
reminiscences, which kept the feelings of the large audience constantly
changing from laughter to tears.
The Way the Chaplains Suppressed the Rebellion,
Rev. L. H. Pearce.
My Best Girl, Maj. A. Sager.
The Great Grand Principle, Dr. Hamilton of
Syracuse.
Song—The Army Bean, Congregation.
The First Recruits, George W. Edgcomb.
Brief Address, Comrade Lewis of the Otsego
branch.
Music by the Band, led by George Edgcomb.
The following is a list of the Seventy-sixth
N. Y. Vols. present at the reunion of Oct. 4, 1894, with their ages:
H. G. Risley, 61; David Young, 54; A. P.
Smith, 63; L. H. Fox, 54; B. F. Taylor, 53; G. W. Smith, 51; Lester Judson, 54;
P. W. Chaffey, 48; M. Edgcomb, 58; G. D. Crittenden, 69; L. F. Lowell, 57; W. L.
Bishop, 54; J. R. Birdlebough, 48; Geo. Moore, 54; G. F. Patterson, 52; Nelson
W. Smith, 53; Almon W. Kibbe, 60; I. J. Bennett, 54; R. G. Davidson, 67; J. N.
Pease, 69; E. R. Hulbert, 65; Dr. C. A. Hamilton, 62; Dr. E. A. Mead, 68; D. R.
Montgomery, 56; M. Byram, 56; Wm. [Aumock,] 56; E. A. Burnham, 54; H. J.
Freer, 55; Thos. Simms, 64; Wm. Crozier, 56; E. H. Teeter, 51; Burdett Newton,
53; C. D. Hyde, 48; B. Howard, 50; C. E. Kenyon, 52; A. Harvey, 50; Peter McLane,
52; Clark A. Holmes, 53; Burdette Fuller, 53; Del Way, 49; Philip [Beiber,] 57; Wm. B. Hill, 54; Melvin
Reed, 49; Cyrus Smith, 60; M. L. Alexander, 60; E. E. Fuller, 50; Geo. W.
Steele, 49; O. P. Miner, 53; S. E. Sanders, 56; O. Dickerson, 52; Frank Pratt,
59; O. W. Burton, 55; A. Lomeree, 58; J. S. Knapp, 64; John Burnes, 52; Eugene
Fisher, 55; Benj. F. Eaton, 57; Israel Rickard, 94; I. M. Alexander, 55; A.
Sager, 60; D. C. Beers, 51; H. W. Lewis, 49; L. Davis, 60; G. G. Bacon, 60; D.
R. Mathews, 58; W. J. Mantanye, 50; W. F. Briggs, 57; A. Hollenbeck, 52; Wm.
Chidester, 70; H. G. Rockwell, 49; Geo. B. Miller, 50; Septa Rindge, 50; P.
Regan, 53; Jas. Stewart, 51; Silas Doran, 50; Ed Fish, 54.
The following letter was read at the
reunion from J. H. Barnard of Washington, D. C., formerly of Cortland, late Captain
of Co. F., Seventy-sixth New York volunteers:
WASHINGTON, D. C., Oct. 2, 1894.
Veterans of the Seventy-sixth Vols:
COMRADES—Accidentally, I have just been
informed that you hold your reunion this year in Cortland. Yes, in Cortland—near
the place where thirty-three years ago, we stood with uncovered brows, and lifting
our right hands toward heaven, swore to protect the old flag, and maintain the
honor of our state in her efforts to enforce the laws of the United States and
the supremacy of the constitution. Thirty three years ago the 18th
of next December, we bade farewell to the old fair grounds which had been our home
and drill plain for many weeks, and through the open gates we marched out. And
while every pulsation of our hearts was a throb of patriotism, down the road we
went, marching with a firm step to the music of our martial band. Soon we had reached
the old depot where a large crowd of people had assembled to see us off. Tears
glistened in many eyes and moistened many a cheek. Farewell words were spoken,
the parting hand was extended and we were on our way to Albany, thence to the
front, while mothers, fathers, wives, sisters and children sought their places
of secret devotion and lifted to God an earnest prayer for his blessing on the
cause to which they had given their choicest treasures.
Comrades, the oldest of us were only in the
prime of life then, and most of you were boys. It is different now. Then, as
regards our life day, it was morning. Now it is afternoon, and with some of us late
in the afternoon. Then I remember I was 27. Now I am 60, and which is the comrade
whose hair is not sprinkled with silver, and whose brow is not marked with the
lines of age.
As I recall the events of that clear, crisp December
morning, and in memory look again upon that line of noble men formed once more
and for the last time on our drill plain, and then think of the small number
who will assemble two days hence, I ask myself where are the others? What did
they do, and what became of them? What became of Grover, who could face death
calmly, unflinchingly, when he knew that it was death he was going to meet? At
Gettysburg he gave his blood to help quench the fires of rebellion.
What became of Banker, that noble young man
who always did his duty well and did it cheerfully? Oh, I remember it as though
it was yesterday. He marched to his death at Gainsville on Aug. 26, 1862,
touching elbows with me, my acting orderly sergeant. I carried one corner of
the blanket on which we removed him to that piece of woods in the rear of the
field where in less than an hour his precious life, so full of hope and
promise, was ended. Oh, I hear now his piteous cries for water and again in
memory I am holding a canteen to his lip.
What became of Carpenter, than whom [sic] a
truer young man never drew a sword or shouldered a musket in defense of his
country? In the Wilderness he fell, and fills an honored grave.
What became of the gallant Crandall? Already
partially disabled and on that account detailed for other and safer duty, he
need not have participated in the battle at Fredericksburg. But he begged to go
with his company and went. Soon came the cannon ball bounding over the frozen ground
carrying away a portion of his head; and near where the muddy waters of the
Rappahannock flow, his body was laid to rest.
What has become of Comrade Cliff who would
not wait until he reached the front, but fought his first battle and won his first
victory over treason on the old Dryden fair ground? Well, he left a leg at Gettysburg,
and recently I am told he has fallen a victim to disease, and now fills a soldier's
grave in Dryden.
Dryden—there is music in that word for me.
There I spent the two brightest, happiest years of my whole life. There I held
my first war meeting, and there I headed my enlistment roll with my own name.
If in your gathering on this reunion day, there is present a man or woman who
knew me there, God help that man or woman.
I have mentioned a few of our comrades who
fell bravely in fighting for the right. I recall many others, but must not
weary you with a long letter. Willing hands prompted by loving hearts, strew
flowers on the graves of those that can be reached. But the beauty of these flowers fades and their
fragrance departs. Not so with the record and memory of our comrades. Their
records are fadeless, and the fragrance of their memory will never depart.
Well, I must now shake hands and bid you
good-bye. Probably we will never all meet again in this life. One by one, and
in rapid succession, we are being summoned to join the Grand Army over and
beyond the river. So good-bye Comrade Mantanye, Comrade Mead, Comrade Sager,
Comrade Rindge, Comrade Edgcomb, all the Comrades, Smith, and every other
comrade who has the happiness which I can not have of being present at this
reunion. God bless you all.
Fraternally,
J. H. BARNARD,
Late Capt. Co. F, Seventy-sixth, N. Y.
No comments:
Post a Comment