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186th Regiment, NY Volunteer Infantry
Civil War Newspaper Clippings
JOURNAL & REPUBLICAN.
SOLON M. HAZEN
AMOS V. SMILEY, Editors
LOWVILLE, N. Y.
WEDNESDAY, Sept.......................21, 1864.
CAPT. SQUIRES' COMPANY.—The Following is a list of officers and privates
composing Co. F, of the l86th Regiment, commanded by Capt. Chas. D. Squires.
The members are all volunteers from Lewis county, and are now at Madison Barracks,
Sacketts Harbor:
Charles D. Squires, Captain
Charles N. Phelps, 1st Lieutenant.
Henry C. Gurnet, 2d Lieutenant.
William A. Pullman, 1st Sergeant.
Duane R. Butts, 2d Sergeant
Wellington Brown, 3d Sergeant
Francis Crawshaw, 4th Sergeant
A. J. Cratzenberg, 5th Sergeant
Seymour Benedict, 1st Corporal.
Chas Meredith, 2d Corporal
John S. Campbell, 3d Corporal
Mordeca Gallup, 4th Corporal
Joseph Lawrence, 5th Corporal
John T. Mitchell, 6th Corporal
Cyrus Moulton, 7th Corporal
Wallace Barber, 8th Corporal
Musicians—Howard H. Parsons, Edwin Putnam.
Privates—Charles Brown, Geo. Barton, John M. Butler, John C. Bush 2d,
Rodney Backer, Darwin Benedict, John Bence, John S. Bush, George B. Barnes,
John F. Bates, Joseph Bush, Peter Barker, John Bradt, Albert Grandall, John
Campney, Clark S. Cook, Geo. W. Cook,
Horace N. Campbell, Delevan Devoe, Charles O. Doran, George S. Doxsee, Wm.
J. Doxsee, John S. Enos, Harvey F. Ellis, Levi Edwards, Orlin J. Gillett, Wm.
H. Gaylord, Edmond Holcomb Jr., Martin Hanor, Eugene W. Hubbard, John Harrington,
Allen Haverly, Jacob W. Hurst, Conrad Hoch, Wm. Hall, Jacob Hadcock, Edward
E. Jones, Jas. A. Kelley, James W. Luce, Wm. W. Leonard, James H. Lampman,
John D.
Land, Charles S. Munger, W. H. Mealus, Newcom P. Mumford, Alfred F. Mulkins,
A. J. Mumford, John Mills, T. McCauley, Michael Marque, Ambrose C. Nellis,
Wm. H. Nichols, Allen Perkins, Alford Perkins, Franklin Perkins Nelson G. Plank,
H. S. Parker, Christopher Parque, John Phillips, John Perkins, Marcellus Stockwell,
Thomas Sykes, Clarence Sears, Isaac L. Swartz, Nicholas Stoffel, John Stoffel,
Charles A. Schmidt, Corodan T. Smith, Edward Searls, J. B Thayer, Wm. Taylor,
Ralph R. Towner, Michael Theobald 2d, John Tiff, F. D. Tomkins, Barton E. Tiff,
Nicholas Veltin, Wm. Wardwell, Warren C. Willis, Wm. Woltge, Thos. D. Wilder,
B. F. Wakefield, Henry D.
Yager.
ORDERED TO MARCH.—The 65th, now 187th Regiment N. Y. Vols., received
orders to leave at 4 o'clock this morning, and before this is seen by our readers
six companies will be on their way to New York, the point where they are ordered
to report. These six companies number 500 of as hale and hearty men as ever
marched against an enemy, It is officered by experienced soldiers, men who
have seen service and are willing to endure more. Below we give the names of
the officers:
OFFICERS OF THE 187TH REGIMENT N. Y. V.
Colonel, Wm. T. Berrens.
Lieutenant-Colonel, Daniel Myers.
Major, Conrad Seeler.
Surgeon, Peter Sonnick.
Quartermaster, Frederick Lautenschlager.
Co. A—Capt. Fred. Trankle; 1st Lieut., Frank Shaffer; 2d Lieutenant,
Johnson D. Ensign.
Co. C—Captain, Charles Geyer; 1st Lieutenant, Val Heffman; 2d Lieutenant,
Charles Bartholomew.
Co. D—Captain, Charles S. Beckwith; 1st Lieutenant, Phillip Latour.
Co. E—Captain, Phillip H. Wagner; lst Lieutenant, Albert Schoenwald;
2d Lieutenant, _____ Palmer.
Co. G—Captain, Frank Mauerman; 2d Lieutenant, George H. Hodges; 2d Lieutenant,
Richard B. Shannon.
Co. I—Captain, Daniel Loeb; 1st Lieutenant, Fred. C. Hyde; 2d Lieutenant,
Henry Tyler.
THE DAILY COURIER.
WEDNESDAY MORNING, OCT. 26, 1864.
Presentation of Regimental Colors to the 187th Regiment.
In accordance with our announcement of yesterday morning, the Board of Supervisors
met at 2 o'clock in the afternoon for the purpose of presenting to the 187th
Regiment, N. Y. S. V., a regimental Flag. On motion the Board resolved itself
into a Committee of the Whole. Jas. E. Lyons, Esq., was called to the Chair,
and requesting Col. Berens, and a member of his staff who was with him, to
step forward, he presented the regimental Colors in the following brief address:-
COLONEL:-The pleasing duty devolves upon me of presenting to your command,
through you, and in behalf of the Board of Supervisors of Erie County, this
beautiful regimental flag; and, in making this presentation, I beg to avail
myself of the occasion to congratulate you on the success that has accompanied
your efforts in raising your regiment.
When the last call of the President was made for 600,000 men, it appeared to
the people of this city and county that it would be an impossibility, a hopless
task, to fill our quota of 3,000 men; but with your energy, and with the hearty
co-operation of the Committee from this Board, not only did you succeed in
the incredibly short space of 6 weeks in raising a command from chaos into
life and form, bringing together from all quarters the necessary elements and
organizing one of the finest bodies of men that ever left this city; but at
the same time enabled our county to respond to our country's call for men without
resort to the casualties of the draft. Men, too, whose firm and soldierly bearing,
men in whose countenances beamed forth the fires of intelligence and patriotism,
impressed every beholder with the conviction that in the day of conflict—yea, "in
the very hour that tries men's souls"—you will do no discredit to
yourselves nor bring the blush to the cheeks of your friends. Already a portion
of your command is on the James, and perchance the eagle eye of Grant marks
them; and their presence inspires him with firmer hope and stronger conviction
that our arms shall triumph and the enemies of our government must succumb.
Colonel, your regiment and yourself go from us accompanied by the prayers,
not only of weeping loved ones at home, but the prayers of a whole community
are poured forth that the God of Battles may protect you from the leaden messengers
of death, and guide you through all the vicissitudes of the field and restore
you with honor to your homes and friends.
Colonel, go forth, and with this noble banner waving over your command and
looming up above the smoke of battle, remember that in war as in peace your
aim and object should be "Excelsior."
The Colors being passed into the hands of Colonel Berens' staff officer, the
Colonel spoke in substance as follows:
Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen: In behalf of my men and myself I thank you for
your beautiful present; and you may rest assured that as long as there is life
in myself or any of my men, this flag will be protected from dishonor. I thank
the Board of Supervisors of Erie Co., and Col. Rogers and his staff, for the
generous assistance rendered me in raising my regiment. I have under me a regiment
composed of as fine men as ever battled to put down the rebellion; men who
will never shrink from the performance of their duty under the stars and stripes;
and while I again thank you for these beautiful colors, I ask you to give me
additional protection for them by filling up my regiment. Whether I return
or not, I am confident that the colors will come back, if a single man in my
command remains to bear them from the battle field.
On motion three hearty cheers were given for the officers and men of the 187th
Regiment. Colonel Berens suggested that he had with him too small a detachment
to respond, but he would see that the Board and citizens were remembered at
the front. Whereupon the Committee r.... and reported the discharge of the
duty assigned to it.
The flag, which is of silk, is of large proportions, and is one of the very
handsomest we have seen. On a field of blue, are the Coat of Arms of the State
of new York, resting on village and landscape, and most artistically executed.
On the top of the flag, in gold letters, on a ground work of red, are the words, " 187TH
REGIMENT, N. Y. S. V."
and beneath the State Arms on a similar ground work is the golden motto "EXCELSIOR." The
pole is surmounted with an eagle from beneath whose wings drop silken cords
and tassels of blue and white. The lower end is silver tipped; and a few inches
above it is a silver plate with the following inscription: " Presented by
the Board of
Supervisors of Erie County, N. Y.
October, 1864.”
We have no doubt that the 187th Regiment, under so able
a commandant as Colonel Berens, will do honor to themselves, the city from
which they hail, and the
beautiful colors under which they are to fight.
From the 187th (65th) Regiment.
HEADQUARTERS 187TH N. Y. V.
Camp near Polar Grove, Va.
14 miles from City Point, Oct. 29, '64.
Editors Courier—Dear Sirs—Knowing that many of your readers are
interested in the fortunes of the 187th regiment, I send you a short account
of our trip to this place, and of our first fight. As you well know, we left
Fort Porter, at noon, on the 14th inst., for New York, on our
way to the Army of the Potomas. The journey to New York was void of accident,
if I except the accident which happened to one of our Captains, who in his
anxiety
to see
that
his men
were
all on, fell off, and tumbled down an embankment of soft earth some 10 or 12
feet, receiving no further hurt than soiled clothes, and a walk of 5 or 6 miles
to the next station. Of course our boys suffered the usual amount of robbery,
from the rascals, big and little who infest the platforms of the different
stations where the trains stop. The lovers of the "ardent" suffered
most, by sending their canteens and the money to have them filled with whiskey;
of course when the train was ready to start, the messengers had not returned.
We arrived in New York, at 5 P. M., of the 15th, and were immediately marched
to Battery Barracks, and after a good supper, our quarters was assigned, when
we "turned in" at once, worn out with a ride, the tediousness and
disagreeablness of which has only relieved and rendered endurable by the kindness
and attention of our gentlemanly Colonel and the officers of his command. Sunday
was emphatically a "day of rest." On Monday our arms and amunition
were issued to us. Tuesday at 10 A. M. the regiment was formed, and in an hour
was on board the steamship "Charles Thomas," bound for City Point.
At 3 P. M., we were well "under weigh", it blowing pretty fresh through
the night. The next morning found us rolling about on a nasty kind of a "sea." That
made many of our boys present themselves with palid faces and retching stomachs
to pay their compliments to the Old Sea god. After breakfast, the polls were
opened to receive the soldiers votes. There was very little excitement, scarcely
half the regiment voting; the rest failing to go up, either from lack of interest,
or fearing to trust themselves on their feet until they got their "sea
legs" under them. About 3 o'clock the next morning, we dropped our anchor
at Fortress Monroe, and waited for daylight, orders and a pilot; all three
coming in due season, we were steaming up the "James" just as the
fog was lifting from the surface of that beautiful river. Before dark we were
alongside the dock at City Point.
Friday morning the 22d, we landed and marched to our camping ground; about
two miles from the Point, and close to the fortifications. Before night, we
had a neat and comfortable camp. It was our first night between canvass walls,
but all were in good spirits, and dropped into routine of camp life as readily
as though they were "vets." On Sunday we were inspected by our Colonel.
Monday nearly the entire regiment was detailed for work on the fortifications,
but was recalled before noon, to prepare for inspection., after which we were
to move our camp just vacated by the l86th N. Y. who had left for the front.
Some of the men complained of being taken from work so soon, as it only lacked
half an hour to noon when they would have drawn their whiskey rations; poor
fellows, the prize almost within reach, and then miss it. Disappointment is
the lot of all mortals, and soldiers are mighty apt to draw double rations;
for after inspection, by the Engineer Brigade Inspector, and moving us to our
new ground, congratulating ourselves on the pleasant change of location, our
Colonel received orders to be in readiness to move the next morning to the
front. So immediately after breakfast, we broke camp, and marched to Cedar
Level Station, three miles from City point. Taking the train there, in less
than an hour we were at Warren Station, on the Weldon Railroad. Here our Colonel
reported to Major-General Warren, commanding the 5th Corps, and was ordered
to report to Brigadier-General Bartlett, commanding 1st division. We marched
about three miles from the Station and camped on a small clearing, made in
a thick piece of timber. It looked rather rough at first, but we soon had it
in pretty good shape. During the afternoon our Colonel was ordered to report
to Brevet Brigadier General Gregory, commanding 2nd Brigade.
On the evening of the next day, the 26th, we received orders to draw four days
marching rations, bread and coffee, and hold ourselves in readiness to march
at a moment's notice. After the fuss and confusion of drawing the "grub," the
boys settled down quietly to get what sleep they could, before the order came
to "strike tents." At two o'clock the next morning, the order came,
and in a few moments our tents were down, folded, packed in our knapsacks and
we were ready for the "route." At 4 o'clock A. M. we had the order
to "fall in," and soon were on our line of march, preceded by the
91st Pa., Volunteers (old troops), and the 188th N. Y. Vols., both of the 2nd
Brigade. At 7 o'clock we were within a quarter of a mile of the rebel fortifications,
at Dinwoodie Court House, on the South Side Railroad, distant six miles from
our camp. At this point we moved into the woods to within 400 yards of the
enemy's works. Here we formed in line of battle, the 91st Pa. being the first
lines, the 188th N. Y., the second, and ours the third; the lines being about
20 yards apart.—The lines being formed, our men moved forward in good
style until within 150 yards of the rebel works, when a heavy and murderous
fire from a large body of rebels, that had been laying in a hollow not 50 yards
from us, caused us to fall back a short distance, where we reformed, the 91st
being thrown out as Skirmishers. Again steadily advancing, in spite of the
dense thicket of undergrowth, we succeeded in forcing them to their rifle pits,
and getting within 50 yards of their works, which we found far stronger than
had been reported. It was here, our men suffered the most, being so far in
advance, we were exposed to an enfilading fire on our right. Finding it impossible
to drive
them from their position, we finally fell back about 100 yards and commenced
to throw up breast - works the rain pouring down upon us and the enemy's bullets
whistling about our ears. —By night we were in good position where we
lay down on our arms.
One deplorable case was that of Sergt. Murz, of Co. G. who, after fighting
bravely through the whole was shot through the heart by a rebel Sharpshooter,
while working, building our fortifications. He was lamented by all who knew
him as well as those who saw his gallant behaviour on the battle field.
Many of our men, after we fell back, went off on the skirmish line and staid
until night, doing good service. The men, led by our gallant Colonel and his
officers, behaved nobly. Moving as we did, from place to place so often, left
us no time to drill or learn the manual of arms; in fact, I venture to say,
three-fourths of the men had never loaded or fired a musket until the morning
we went into the fight. But they stood to their work bravely and showed that
the material was there, all it needed was cultivation. Gen. Gregory professed
himself well satisfied with the behavior of the Regiment, during the entire
affair. The next morning, the 28tb, we received orders to leave our impromptu
works and move to the rear, an order we gladly obeyed, having been 26 hours
under fire, and the most of the time exposed to a drenching rain, without shelter,
and nothing but hard-tack to eat, as we were not allowed to light fries to
boil our coffee. About 2 o'clock we reached this camp, which is about a mile
from the one we occupied before. To-day the boys are busy cleaning their guns
and getting ready for another "brush" with the "Johnnies." We
went into the fight with 440 men, and came out with 368--losing in killed,
wounded and missing, 72; a severe introduction for a regiment three weeks old.
D. K. N.
LIST OF KILLED, WOUNDED AND MISSING OF
THE 187TH REGT. N. Y. V. , LIEUT.
COL. MYERS COMMANDING
Co. A—Capt Frederick Tranckle, Com'g
WOUNDED
Sergeant—Lonis Slatzer, left arm, severe.
Sergeant
John Miller, leg.
Private—John Elder, leg.
Private John Erisman, slight.
Private Charles Smith, severer.
Private Alexander Hofften, head, severe.
Private Fred Dutweiler, lung, severe.
Private Jacob Cramer, arm shattered.
Private Edward Witt, arm and head.
Private Lawrence P Murphy, legs, slight.
Private John Miller, leg, slight.
Private Martin Lovey, head, slight.
Private Jacob Demmer, mouth, severe.
Private Martin Wolter, leg and arm.
Private Gregory Milhaupt, died in Hospital, October
29th.
Co. C--Capt. Chas. Geyer, Com'g.
KILLED.
Private—Charles Grinpfer.
WOUNDED.
Private George Roach, leg, slight.
Private
Phillip Machl, hand.
Private Valentine Staub, slight.
Private John Martin, head.
Private George Brown, hand.
Co. D—Capt. J. C. Beckwith, Com'g.
KILLED.
Private—David O. Keefe.
David Mosler.
WOUNDED
1st Sergeant—John C. Webber, shoulder, slight.
Private Sebastian Ballard, leg.
Private
Jacob Borz, elbow.
Private
August Kuhn, leg.
Private
David J Stone, wrist.
Private
Martin Zuempfer, finger.
Private
Jacob Schieffer, arm.
Co. E—Captain Phillip Wagner, Com'g.
WOUNDED.
Sergeant--George W Pierce, both hips.
Private— Joseph Woodward, hip.
Christian Nissel, finger.
Leonard Miller.
Capt. Frank Maumerman, Com'g.
KILLED.
Sergeant—Charles Drowning.
Sergeant
John Munz.
Corporal—Charles Edgar.
WOUNDED
Sergeant—William C Robinson, foot.
Corporal—Oliver Brewer, face slight.
Private—William R Deacon, hand.
Private
George W Bachestes, arm.
Lloyd A COOK, leg.
Lawrence Hill, foot.
Francis Shelb, face.
John Eggleston.
Capt. Daniel Loeb, Com'g (Dunkirk Co.)
WOUNDED.
Sergeant--Henry Schuller, slight.
George F. Parker, groin, slight.
Corporal--Richard Cameron, wrist.
Corporal Jacob Resch, leg above the knee, flesh.
Corporal John Long, calf of leg, flesh.
Corporal Jerry Sullivan, slight.
Private--William Weiler, beast, slight.
Private David Hammond, knee, slight.
Private Milton Love, foot.
Private Michael Miller, leg, severe.
Private Thomas H. Starr, arm, severe.
Private Seth Simmons, shin.
MISSING.
...Milhaupt, Jacob Smith.
Seth Colvin, Sebastian Eich, John Snecher.
.... Philts.
Joseph Cooper, Frank H Regner, Thomas ....
.... Howe, Henry B Page, James F Thompson,
.... W Alton.
The One hundred eighty-sixth regiment New-York State Volunteers arrived here
early yesterday morning, en route to Sackett's Harbor, where it goes to be
mustered out. The regiment partook of a substantial breakfast at the Howard
street Soldiers' Depot. The One hundred and eighty-sixth was raised principally
in Jefferson County, and was officered in part by those who had seen two years'
service in the "old
.... New York." Although but absent eight months in the service, it has
participated in several hard fought battles. In the battle of April 2d, before
Petersburgh, this regiment was among the very first to enter the rebel fortifications,
and was highly complimented by its Brigade and Division Commanders for the
gallantry shown in its charge on "Fort Ma.... It was in this charge that
its gallant Colonel, Bradley Winslow, received a severe wound, from the effects
of which he has not yet recovered. The following is a list of the officers
present:
Lieut. Col. E. J. Marsh, commanding; Major, A. D. S...berg, Adjt., L. M. Marsh,
Quartermaster, C. Zimmerman, Wm. C. Bailey, Assistant Surgeon ... Coleman,
Capts. J. P. Legg, J. D. McWayne, H. Yates, R. McMullin, L. Snell, C. D. Squire,
H.P. Bates, ...W. Reynolds, C. D. Munger, First Lieuts. C. J. Edmunds, Gleason,
Stapin, Peck, C. Phelps, Herring, E. G. Ferris, J. Philips, A. P Morse, B.
B. Brown; Second Lieuts. W. P. Marsh, Taylor, E. Jones, Philips, J. W. Bartlett,
Gurnett, J. G. Horn, O. Cutler, C. Robertson, K. Brown.
(N. Y. Times June 7, 1865)
ARRIVAL OF REGIMENTS..—The One Hundred and Eighty-sixth N. Y. S. V.,
and a detachment of the Fourth Heavy Artillery, came up this morning on the
steamer Hendrik Hudson and Vanderbilt, reaching here a t 4 1 /2 o'clock. Capt.
James Bowden fired a salute, and Ald. Mullhall,
Chairman of the Reception Committee of the Common Council, was on hand to care
for their wants.
The One Hundred and Eighty-sixth was taken to John Evans saloon, where it partook
of a hearty lunch, after which it was marched to the Barracks on the Troy road.
This regiment was recruited directly in Lewis and Jefferson Counties, and was
mustered into the service at Sackett's Harbor on the 8th of September last.
From thence it proceeded to City Point, via New York, where it was set to work
on the breastworks. It was next stationed at Pegran House Station, and participated
in the battle of the Southside Railroad on the 27th of October. On the 28th
of November it was removed to Hancock Station. It formed part of Warren's command
in his raid to Nottoway on the 10th of December. At Hancock Station it did
picket duty until the night of the lst of April. On the morning of the 2d of
April it charged and took Fort Mahone, in front of Petersburg, and then joined
in the pursuit and capture of Lee. Though only a short time out, the boys have
made a record of which they may well be proud. They went out 980 strong, and
return with 730 men. They lost 30 killed in the battle on the 2d, and 100 wounded.
The remainder died from disease or were discharged for disability. The regiment
will proceed to Sackett's Harbor, for the purpose of being mustered out. The
commanding officer of the One Hundred and Eighty-sixth, Col. Bradley Winslow,
was severely wounded in battle, and is now at his home in Watertown, N. Y.
Lieut.-Col. E. J. Marsh is now in command.
The following is a full list of the officers:--
Lieutenant Colonel, E. J. Marsh, commanding; Major, A, D. Sternberg; Surgeon,
William C. Bailey; Quartermaster, C. Zimmerman; Adjutant,
Luther M. Marsh; Assistant Surgeon, J. C. Coleman.
Company A.--Captain, J . P. Legg; First Lieutenant, C. J. Edmonds; Second Lieutenant,
W. P. Marsh.
Company B—Captain, J. D. McWayne; First Lieutenant, W. Gleason; Second
Lieutenant, W. J. Taylor.
Company C— Captain, H. Yates; First Lieutenant, B. B. Brour; Second Lieutenant,
E. Jones.
Company D—Captain, R. B. McMullin; First
Lieutenant, A. J. Philips; Second Lieutenant, D. Staplin.
Company E—Captain, L. Snell; First Lieutenant, W. K. Peck: Second Lieutenant,
J. W. Bartlett.
Company F— Captain, C. D. Squire; First-Lieutenant, C. P. Phelps; Second
Lieutenant, H. Grunett.
Company G—Captain, H. P. Bates; First Lieutenant, W. P. Herring; Second
Lieutenant, J. G. Horr.
Company H--Captain, J. M. Reynolds; First Lieutenant, E. G. Ferris; Second
Lieutenant, O. L. Cutler.
Company I--Captain, C. S. Munger; First Lieutenant, J. B. Matthews.; Second
Lieutenant, C. Robertson.
Company K—First Lieutenant, A. Morse; Second Lieutenant, K. W. Brown.
Col. B. Winslow and Capt. W. R. Wallace are still suffering from wounds received
April 2d in the assault on Petersburg.
The regiment was among the very first to enter the Rebel fortifications, and
was highly complimented by its brigade and Division Commanders for the gallantry
shown in its charge on "Fort Mahone."
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New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs: Military History
Last modified:
May 19, 2006
URL: http://www.dmna.state.ny.us/historic/reghist/civil/infantry/186thInf/186thInfCWN.htm
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