Part 8 (1/2)
B. ALMY, JR., Teacher, enlisted January 17th, 1866. Mr. Almy joined upon transfer from the Enfield Company, of which he was Orderly Sergeant. Is a teacher of ability; his present engagement is with the Public School in this village.
JOHN E. CLAPP, Clerk, enlisted March 15th, 1866. Is one of the most attentive members at the present time.
H. G. STODDARD, Clerk, enlisted March 29th, 1866. Mr. Stoddard, as will be observed, has very recently joined, but promises to become one of the best members of the Company.
J. H. WILLETTS, Student, enlisted May 7th, 1866. Mr. Willetts joined the Company almost a perfect stranger to all the members, but by his gentlemanly deportment and perfect willingness to learn, has gained the respect of both officers and men.
M. MCCALLESTER, Farmer, enlisted May 7th, 1866. His residence is so far from the village that he is only occasionally present at the drills and meetings, but from the eagerness he displayed to learn when he first became a member, we are led to believe he will make a good soldier.
C. N. TABER, enlisted May 31st, 1866. Mr. Taber promises to become a soldier of extraordinary merit.
LEWIS S. NEIL, Painter, enlisted May 31st, 1866. Although next to the last soldier enlisted in the DeWitt Guard, we are led to believe will soon become next to the best in his knowledge of military; and perhaps in this instance as in others, the last shall be first.
JOHN BARNARD, ”The Hero of Lookout Mountain,” seized with a patriotic ardour to serve his country in its trying period for National existence, on the 20th day of August, 1862, he volunteered and joined Capt. J. H. Terry's Company, then being formed in this village. Was duly examined and mustered into the United States service at Binghamton, N.
Y., on the 25th of September, 1862. Was unanimously elected 8th Corporal of Company D. He left Binghamton with the Regiment for the seat of war, September 27th.
He accompanied General Geary on a reconnoissance to Manchester, which occupied five days. December 10th ordered to reinforce General Burnside at Fredericksburg. This was the first time our hero came within hearing of the enemy's guns, but his courage was equal to any emergency, and never, through the whole course of his military life, did he turn his back to the enemy, but always stood up and boldly battled for the right.
Sunday, December 28th, had the first skirmish. On the 18th of January, 1863, was detailed by Colonel Ireland as one of the color guard of the Regiment. On the 27th day of April, was ordered on a march, and with eight days' rations and ninety rounds of ammunition, started for the Chancellorsville battle ground, where he arrived and partic.i.p.ated in the battles of May 1st, 2d and 3d. July 2d and 3d were engaged with the enemy upon the b.l.o.o.d.y fields of Gettysburg. September 24th, was ordered to reinforce General Rosecrans at Chattanooga, Tennessee. October 29th, partic.i.p.ated in the midnight battle of Wauhatchie. In this engagement one out of every three of the whole number were either killed or wounded. Color-bearer Baker was seriously wounded, and the colors of the Regiment fell into the hands of our gallant Barnard, he having escaped unharmed, although his overcoat, which was strapped upon his back, was shot through by one of the enemy's bullets. After this engagement he was detailed as color-bearer of the Regiment, vice Baker wounded.
On the 24th of November was ordered to march flying light, with only one day's rations; partic.i.p.ated in the famous ”Battle above the Clouds;”
climbing over rocks and fallen trees, our bold and daring Sergeant succeeded in planting the colors of his Regiment on the rebel works, amid a terrific fire from the enemy. Sergeant Brink, with the State colors, was shot down upon his right, and Corporal Foot, of the color guard, upon his left. For this brave and heroic deed, Sergeant Barnard received the thanks of Colonel Ireland, as well as of all the general officers. November 25th, was engaged in the battle of Missionary Ridge, and November 27th in the battle of Ringold, Georgia. January 4th, 1864, was ordered to Stevenson, Alabama. While here Sergeant Barnard was detailed by the Commandant of the Post and appointed Post-Master, a very responsible position, having the entire charge of the mail for over five thousand troops. This office he held until Sherman's campaign against Atlanta commenced, and in May he again resumed his office in the Regiment. Was engaged in the action at Resacca, May 15th, battle of New Hope Church, May 25th, battle of Pine Hill, June 15th, and continued skirmis.h.i.+ng until June 21st, when he partic.i.p.ated in the battle of Kolb's Farm. June 24th battle of Kenesaw Mountain; still continued skirmis.h.i.+ng with the enemy, and drove them across the Chattahoochie River. July 20th was in the battle of Peach Tree Creek; also in the siege of Atlanta, and was among the first troops that entered the city, September 2d.
November 15th he started on the Georgia campaign, and partic.i.p.ated in the siege of Savannah from December 11th until December 21st, when together with the color-bearer of the 102d New York, he hoisted the old flag upon the City Hall in Savannah. January 27th, 1865, started on the Carolina campaign. Was engaged in the skirmishes at Edisto River, Lexington Court House, S. C, and Averysboro, N. C. Arrived at Goldsboro, N. C, April 1st, 1865. Was present at the capture of Raleigh on the 14th of April.
On the 30th of April, the war having virtually closed by the surrender of Generals Lee and Johnson, Sergeant Barnard, with his Regiment, started homeward, arriving in Alexandria, Virginia, May 19th. Took part in the Grand Review at Was.h.i.+ngton, May 24th, and on June 9th was mustered out of the United States service.
Sergeant Barnard was engaged in fourteen battles, besides numerous skirmishes, which, in times previous to the late war, would have been considered battles of much account.
Suffering all the dangers, exposures and deprivations of the Georgia and Carolina campaigns, our Sergeant was never a day from his Regiment, unless detailed for special duty. He made every mile of the whole march on foot, carrying a burden that every American soldier knows is enough to break down the const.i.tution of almost any ordinary man.
No soldier ever enlisted in the service of his country, who is deserving of more honor than Sergeant John Barnard.
Remember, you that staid at home and experienced none of the trials and deprivations of war, those who sacrificed their health, their lives and their all for you, as well as every other citizen of this great Republic.
HISTORY OF THE COMPANY.
The DeWitt Guard was organized in 1851, and the first regular meeting was held December 31st. At this meeting a series of By-Laws were adopted, very many of which are in operation at the present time, although there is not at the present time a single person connected with the organization who at that time was a member.
J. B. Terry was elected the first Secretary, and George H. Collins Treasurer, with Stephen Brewer and Loren Day as Directors.
At that time the law permitted the Companies to have a certain number of supernumeraries, and at the second regular meeting, F. Reed Dana, W. G.
Maurice, Isaac Tichenor, Julius M. Adsley, Dana Fox, E. M. Marshall, John Rumsey, George McChain and S. B. Covert, were duly elected supernumeraries. The first out of doors drill took place in the Park, June 23d, and lasted two hours. The 4th day of July was duly observed by the Company: a parade, at which the Company did their first street firing, and a dinner at Colonel Seymour's Ithaca Hotel, const.i.tuted the festivities of the day. At the regular meeting, September 2d, 1852, a note was given to Colonel Millspaugh for fifty dollars, this being the amount he advanced to pay the Armorer's bill. On Thursday morning, September 23d, the drum beat at five o'clock, which warned the citizens of the near approach of the departure of Captain Partenheimer's Company, not for the seat of war, but for their first encampment at Goodwin's Falls. At 9 o'clock the life-like engine ”Lackawanna,” with a modesty becoming the Company to whom she belonged, introduced the Company to his honor ”William E. Dodge,” who safely landed his ”precious load of freight” soon after at Goodwin's Landing. After a march of about three miles, to the music of Canham's Bra.s.s Band, the camp-ground was reached; tents were soon pitched, colors were hoisted, and at one P. M. were ready for our first rations; at two P. M. of the same day the Company paraded for the first time upon a camp-ground. The Company remained in camp one week.
Thursday November 25th, 1852, by proclamation of the Governor, was observed as a day of Thanksgiving. This being the day designated by the fair ones of our village for the presentation of the Banner to our Company, Captain Partenheimer's orders were responded to by a prompt and full corps. Upon being drawn up in line in front of the Clinton House, Hon. S. B. Cus.h.i.+ng, on behalf of the Ladies, in a few appropriate remarks, presented the Banner. Our worthy Lieutenant Bruyn, on behalf of the Captain and his Company, returned his most sincere and heartfelt thanks, with a few remarks highly complimentary to him from whose hand he received the Banner, and to those Ladies instrumental in making the donation. Alter a parade through the princ.i.p.al streets, and giving each Public House a round of blank cartridges, with that good feeling ever manifested by the Company, they were dismissed by our commanding officer. March 3d William Glenny was elected Secretary in place of J. B.
Terry, resigned.
July 4th, 1853, was duly celebrated by the Company by an encampment through the day in the Park. August 9th the Company were inspected by Brigadier General Segoine, of Auburn. September 8th, 1853, the second encampment of the Company took place at Goodwin's Falls; were here again reviewed by General Segoine and Colonel D. E. Avery. On Sunday the Company in a body attended church at Trumansburg. Was.h.i.+ngton's birth-day, February 22d, 1854, was observed by the Company; a national salute was fired by Sergeant McDonald, loading and firing five times a minute. June 27th the committee of arrangements for the celebration of the coming Fourth of July, offered the Company thirty dollars if they would partic.i.p.ate in the celebration, which was promptly refused, and the Company voted unanimously to join in the celebration without money and without price. Accordingly the Fourth day of July, 1854, was duly celebrated in the true spirit of '76. The first target shoot of the Company was held July 11th, 1854, and resulted in Sergeant McDonald taking the first prize, L. Millspaugh the second and S. Stoddard the third. Sat.u.r.day August 26th, 1854, the Company appeared in full uniform at 5 o'clock, A. M., to escort the remains of their late comrade, D.
Lewis Avery, to their last resting place. His remains were taken to Aurora for interment.
Monday August 28th, the Company started for Camp Seneca, at Seneca Falls, where a week was spent by them very profitably. The second target practice was September 22d, 1854, and Sergeant L. R. King, E. C. Fuller, M. E. Elmendorf, Lot S. Hinds and Sergeant McDonald, were declared the best shots, and received the prizes accordingly. January 8th, 1855, was duly observed by the Company; in the evening had supper at the Clinton House. September 6th the Company unanimously voted to furnish uniforms free of expense to all new members who would join. September 14th, 1855, K. S. Van Voorhees was elected first Sergeant, L. R. King, second Sergeant, F. K. Andrus, third Sergeant, and James McClune, fourth Sergeant. September 19th, third target shoot, the lucky ones not recorded. October 31st, 1855, the Company were inspected and reviewed by General Segoine and staff, and Colonel D. E. Avery and staff; in the afternoon of the same day was another target shoot. November 29th the Company escorted the remains of their late Lieutenant, A. H. McNeil, to the Depot, being en route for the city of Auburn. The Company held their annual meeting and took supper at the Clinton House, January 8th, 1856.
May 28th L. R. King was elected first Lieutenant, in place of W. V.