admin CHAPTER XVI.
HISTORIES OF THE TWENTY-FIRST AND TWENTY-SEVENTH NEW YORK INFANTRY.
THE following sketch of the 21st is compiled mainly from the third annual report of the Bureau of Military Record:
This regiment, called also the “first Buffalo regiment,” was organized, accepted into the State service and numbered on the 13th of May, 1861. It was made up mostly from companies recruited from Buffalo, but Wyoming county was represented in it by Horace W. Jones, Arcade; William H. Boorman, Castile; Walter M. Fox, Orangeville; John Bump, James Bump, Job Bump, Charles M. Fox, Sheldon; Charles H. Littlebridge, Pike; George W. Bassett, Edwin P. Fanning, Horace Firman, Warsaw.
The regiment left Elmira on the 18th of June. On the 14th of July it moved into Virginia and was assigned to duty at Fort Runyon. There it was occupied in guard and camp duties and in drilling with the guns of the fort. September 28th it advanced to Upton Hill, where it expected to meet the enemy, but the place was deserted, and the formidable ” cannon ” on the breastworks were found to consist of a few pump logs and some old stovepipe on wheels – varieties of “quaker” guns. The regiment went into camp and erected a fort, which was named Fort Buffalo. At that place, and on the 15th of December, it went into winter quarters.
At the end of 1861 it was found that the regiment, which left Elmira with 754 men, had lost by discharge 80, and by death 4; and that it had gained by recruits 64, leaving it with a strength of 734.
On the 10th of March, 1862, it was in the reconnaissance in force towards Centreville, where it was found that the enemy had left their fortifications with the (quaker) guns mounted. Here General Patrick assumed command of the brigade, General Wadsworth, who had commanded, having been made military governor of the District of Columbia.
On the 15th the regiment returned to Alexandria, and from there went to what was appropriately termed “Camp Misery,” where it enjoyed Virginia mud and Virginia weather during three weeks. On the 18th of April it, with McDowell’s command, moved towards Richmond, encountering the enemy occasionally in light skirmishes. On the 19th of May it reached and crossed the Rappahannock and took up camp on Hazel Run, in the rear of Fredericksburg. On the 9th of August the regiment, with the division to which it was attached, left Fredericksburg under orders to join the corps at Culpepper, where the army, under General Pope, was concentrating. On the 14th it crossed Cedar Run and encamped, the’ army occupying both flanks of Cedar mountain to await the approach of Jackson. Here it remained till the 18th, when General Pope became satisfied that the enemy was preparing to advance in overwhelming numbers, and he determined to withdraw behind the Rappahannock. In the ensuing engagement the 21st regiment became exposed to the enemy’s artillery and sharpshooters. The enemy withdrew across the river. The regiment then returned to a former position on the right to oppose an expected attempt of the enemy to cross a second time. Here, in the ravine in which it was stationed, it was exposed to a shower of projectiles. The order soon came to fall back, as it was discovered that the enemy had planted a new battery fully commanding the ravine. The movement of the regiment to the wood was executed in a masterly manner, and the day closed without the loss of a man.
August 26th the regiment reached Warrenton at dark. On the 27th it moved to the Sulphur Springs, encountered the enemy’s pickets and lay all day between the contending artillery. On the 28th it moved toward Grove ton, and was in the reserve in the engagement at that place in the evening. On the 29th and 30th it took part in the second battle of Bull Run, and formed the right of the line of battle at Chantilly September 1st. It fell back with the army and reached Upton’s Hill on the night of the 2nd of September, 1862.
On the 14th the 21st took part in the battle of South Mountain, where it was engaged in the severe contest for the possession of the crest on the left of the ravine. It was deployed as skirmishers in this action, and went straight up the slope, drawing the fire of the enemy and revealing his position. On the 16th and 17th, at Antietam, it was on the right, under General Hooker, and fought valiantly during several hours.
It next took part in the battle of Fredericksburg, and at the end of 1863 was encamped at Cottage Grove, on the left flank of the army.
At the beginning of 1862 the regiment was 734 strong. At the end of the same year there were present for duty 295.
On the 9th of January, 1863, the 21st was transferred to the command of General M. K. Patrick, for duty as provost guard of the army, and it continued in his command till it was sent home for discharge.
The regiment returned to Buffalo on the 11th of May, 1863. On the 21st a reorganization was authorized, but the authorization was revoked on the 30th of the next September.
TWENTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT INFANTRY.
The 27th regiment was organized at Elmira May 21st, 1861, to serve two years. It was composed of companies recruited in Orleans, Allegany, Livingston, Broome, Monroe, Wayne and Westchester counties. Wyoming county was represented by George Cady, William Fitch, Thomas C. Heath, William F. Johnson, J. McDuffy, Atwood Preston, Simon Ray, Charles Rock, Harman Stannard, William L. Smith, Elias Smith and J. L. Smith.
The field officers were: colonel, Henry W. Slocum; lieutenant-colonel, Joseph J. Chambers; major, Joseph J. Bartlett.
The regiment was mustered in July 5th, 1861, at Elmira, and on the next day set out for Washington, where it arrived on the nth. On the 16th it left Washington, and on the evening of the 18th encamped near Centreville. At 2 o’clock on the morning of Sunday, July 21st, it marched to the field of Bull Run, where it fought well under General Hunter and suffered severely.
It withdrew from the field in order, but when it encountered the rest of the army in a confused retreat it broke up, as did other regiments in the flight to Washington.
August 14th the 27th encamped near Alexandria, Va. There Colonel Slocum was promoted to the position of brigadier-general, Lieutenant-Colonel Chambers resigned, and Major Bartlett was made colonel. Captain Adams lieutenant-colonel, and Captain Gardner major.
September 12th the regiment commenced the work of building Fort Lyon. October 14th it went into winter quarters at Camp Clara, four miles north from Fort Lyon. April 17th, 1862, the division to which the 27th belonged embarked on transports, and on the afternoon of the 23d sailed to Fortress Monroe. On the 24th the regiment camped on a peninsula about seven miles from Yorktown.
May 5th the troops went up to the head of navigation on York river, and landed under cover of the gunboats, from which a few shots were fired, scattering the rebel cavalry and infantry that were skirmishing on the shore.
The 27th was the first to land. The enemy was near, and a line of battle was at once formed. Six companies were sent out as skirmishing pickets, and the other four acted as reserves. Picket firing at once commenced and was kept up during the night. The regiment sustained a loss of several killed and wounded, and succeeded in taking a few prisoners.
On the morning of the 7th of May, while the Union troops were at breakfast, they were surprised by the enemy. A severe engagement followed, in which the fighting was done in the midst of thick bushes. The enemy were finally driven back with the loss of one of their batteries. The Union troops lost between 100 and 200 killed and wounded.
On Thursday, May 22nd, a reconnaissance was made, in which this regiment participated. From that time forward until June 29th it was actively engaged, most of the time in skirmishing. On the afternoon of the 27th it crossed the Chickahominy and participated in the battle of Gaines’s Mills, losing 179 men in killed, wounded and missing.
Near Harrison’s Landing the regiment remained some time, throwing up entrenchments. Shortly after began a retrograde movement toward Yorktown, and the regiment on the 2 1 st day of August was at Newport News. There it embarked for Alexandria. From there it moved on to Manassas, and arrived just in time to cover the retreat of General Pope at the second Bull Run battle.
September 14th the 27th was in an engagement at South Mountain, acting as skirmishers and routing a rebel battery. The regiment was engaged again on the 17th, at Antietam, but suffered no loss. In December the 27th marched to the fight at Fredericksburg, sharing in the terrible sacrifices made by the Union troops, and in the defeat. From this memorable field the regiment returned to camp at White Oak Church.
In the last week in April it was again engaged at Fredericksburg, under General Sedgwick, and soon afterward in the disastrous battle of Chancellorsville. After this the regiment guarded Banks’s Ford until its term of service expired. The mustering out order, which was dated May 13th, 1863, and signed by Major-General Sedgwick, contained the following: “The general commanding the corps congratulates the officers and men of the 27th N. Y. volunteers upon their honorable return to civil life. They have enjoyed the respect and confidence of their commanders and companions. They have illustrated their term of service by gallant deeds, and have won for themselves a reputation not surpassed in the Army of the Potomac, and have nobly earned the gratitude of the Republic.”
The regiment was mustered out at Elmira.
SOURCE: History of Wyoming County, N.Y., with Illustrations, Biographical Sketches and Portraits of Some Pioneers and Prominent Residents; F. W. Beers & Co.; 1880