July 3, 1863 126th New York Company C at Gettysburg

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania is a location most have heard of and many have visited. The Civil War battle there on July 1, 2, 3, 1863 has been called a turning point in the Civil War.

The 126^th NY Volunteer Infantry unit was primarily made of men from the Ontario, Seneca and Yates counties. Most of the men in Company C were from the southern portions of Seneca County.

John Ryno and John M. Chadwick both kept diaries of their time in the Civil War and these have been preserved and transcribed. Rather than look at the battle at Gettysburg, I’ve taken their diary entries for the days before, during and after the battle.

June 28, 1863 Ryno: Frederick [Md.] We are encamped on the bank of the river.

Chadwick: From this place we marched to the river, about 2 miles from Frederick City and camped for the night. The distance was about 2 miles.

June 29, 1862 Ryno: We got up at two o’clock this morning. We have had breakfast. We left Frederick at 8 o’clock and marched through several small villages, Libertytown, Johnstown and Uniontown making a march of 33 miles. The men are very tired and hundreds of them fell out by the way.

Chadwick:  Marched from Frederick City to Unionville (Union Bridge), a distance of 33 miles, the third largest march ever made in the world. This morning Col. Willard takes command of the Brigade, and Gen. Hays of the Division. Col. Willard ordered the Band to report to the regt. I had not been there ten minutes when Col. (Eliakim) Sherell gave me command of the “Drum Corps.” George was unable to march and was left at Frederick City. He had not marched with us since we started.

June 30, 1863 Chadwick: We did not march but two miles, but were mustered for pay. I was mustered as Principle Musician. Think I now have a “sure” thing. This evening another corps came up with us.

July 1, 1863 Ryno: We struck tents in morning at 7 and marched until 11, then awaited further orders. We marched back to Uniontown [Md] then turned around and marched back to Taneytown [Md] and fell out. The Regiment went on to Hagerstown where they expect a battle.

Chadwick: Marched about six miles, and camped in the woods about 11 o’clock, a.m. Here we find more troops. It is said the whole Army of the Potomac are united at this place. There is a large Army here now, and we expect to have a fight in a day or two.  In the afternoon were ordered to march back to protect a baggage train. We marched about three miles and returned, but found the troops all gone. We marched on about six miles further, and halted for the night. We marched in all 18 miles. That night we learned that they were having a fight at Gettysburg.

July 2, 1863 Ryno: I am at Taneytown this morning and feeling rather poorly. The Artillery was passing all night. I left Taneytown this morning and came to where the men were fighting. They had a very hard battle and our troops drove them two or three miles. The musketry has ceased but batteries are playing on them tonight.

Chadwick: In the morning at four o’clock we started for Gettysburg, a distance of about 20 miles. When we arrived at this place, the troops were drawn up in line of battle. There had not been any fighting, except for a little cannonading. In the afternoon, about 3 o’clock, the battle commences, and it was a hard battle. Our Regiment lost heavily, but the day was ours. I was at the hospital taking care of the wounded. Col. Willard of the 125^th NY Vol (who had command of our Brigade) was killed. J. T. Grant of my old Band was killed.

 July 3, 1863 Ryno: Cannonading commenced this morning at four and lasted until sin in the afternoon then a general engagement took place which lasted nearly an hour. The Rebs made a charge on us and we drove them back with great slaughter. We look a large number of prisoners during the fighting. Eugene Holton was wounded in the afternoon with a piece of shell. I was up all night with the wounded but will join my company tomorrow.

Chadwick: They commenced firing about daylight, but did not do much to skirmish until about one o’clock p.m. In the skirmish, many of our boys were wounded and some were killed. Peter Rappleye, Richard Lockhard, Madison Covert, Eugene Holton, Michael Stout, James Harris, Will Herrington, Lieut. Brown, Sgt Swartout, and a number of others from our Company, were wounded. Sgt Chas Harris and Samuel Blew were killed. I do not know how many more.

July 4, 1863 Ryno: Skirmishing has been going on all day. The boys have brought in several of our dead today.

Chadwick: Report came in that Col. Sherell was killed. Nothing but skirmishes today. Report that the enemy are falling back. 

July 5, 1863 Ryno: All quiet this morning. The Rebs have left and our troops are burying their dead this morning. We left camp at 6 p.m. and marched six miles and encamped for the night.

Chadwick: The enemy have all fallen back. They left their dead and wounded upon the field. At four o’clock we were ordered to march. We marched until 10 o’clock and halted for the night. It rained hard all night. I had not so much as a blanket, having left them for the wounded. It is reported that Lee has met French, and we are to take him in the rear.

A visit to Gettysburg often means a stop at the Union lines where the men of the 126^th defended a portion of the field from Picket’s Charge. Near that location is a monument to the regiment.

Dewitt’s Diary, Saturday, July 3, 1937

Arnold, young undertaker, and Peterson’s boy Will were drowned last night off Kidders. Helped drag for the bodies this morning. Giant firecracker blew hole in boat. 

April 9, 1865 Appomattox Court House, The End of the Civil War

This 1865 event in Virginia had ties to many families in the Town of Covert and surrounding area.

For four long years, from the firing on Fort Sumner, South Carolina, April 12, 1861, through the battles, skirmishes, and long winters, two armies fought their way to an April afternoon in a small town in Virginia.

In the end, two generals met, one surrendering, the other accepting that surrender. A nation, torn in two, now looked to rebuild.

On April 16, 1865 Eugene Holton, from Covert, wrote to his sister back home from the camp near Burksville, VA. 

My Dear Sister,

I hasten to reply to your letter of the 7^th which I have just received and finished reading…General Lee’s army was surrendered to the Army of the Potomac on the 9^th of April sometime between 2 & 5 PM.

On the 2^nd of April our Brigade commander was wounded & we carried him to Grant’s railroad…Since that time Bernard McDougal has commanded the Brigade (he used to be an officer in the 75^th) & the army has been following Lee’s until the 9^th in the afternoon. The troops were halted & we [members of the Band] were ordered to the front on the skirmish lines to play.

After Lee surrendered we first played Hail to the Chief, then national airs. We was  [sic] the first Band to play on the occasion, quite an honor.

The “Band” Holton is referring to is the 3d Brigade Band, 5^th Division, 2d Army Corps. The band was under the leadership of Prof John M. Chadwick, and most of the men had been together since their enlistment in Company C, 126^th NY Volunteers.

The Band members were Charles Gilman, Charles Decker, John Ryno, Marc Andrus, Eugene K. Holton, George Babcock, Noyes S. Burlew, Alf Davis, Michael E. Stout, Francis M. Rappleye, Peter W. Rappleye, Charles Powers, George M. Chadwick, John Grant, Richard Lockhard, and Professor John M. Chadwick.

In recounting the events of that historic day, one local source notes, “An aide of General Miles brought the news and the band began to play. The Union batteries were awaiting this very signal and the moment the band began to play, the roar of cannon began as battery after battery joined in celebrating.”

In the years following the Civil War members of the band would recall that honor. April 11, 1896, The Farmer Review carried a lengthy article on “The Old Band.” In addition to telling some of the history prior to the end of the war, the author noted, “Never was wind jammed through horns louder, and greater vim than on this occasion.” In closing the article, he noted, “further honored by being called upon to give a concert at General Meade’s headquarters the same evening.” While the community may have known who “One of The Old Band” was, 120 years later we do not.

Third Brigade Band, taken in May 1863.
Interlaken Historical Society photo collection #311

Band members standing left to right: Prof. John M. Chadwick, leader, Charles Gilman, Charles Decker, John L. Ryno, Marc Andrus, Eugene K. Holton, George Babcock, Noyes S. Burlew, Alf Davis. Front row: Michael e. Stout, Frnacis M. Rapleye, Peter W. Rappleye, Charles Powers, George M. Chadwick, John Grant and Richard Lockhart. The gentleman standing on the far “right had been a cook at General Lee’s Headquarter and deserted. He was ‘adopted’ by the Band,”[Patterson, Between the Lakes, 1976, page 135].

During the Civil War the band would march in the front of troops, therefore several of the horns were shaped to project the sound to the rear, notice Prof. Chadwick’s horn and that of Charles Gilman beside him, when raised the bell would face the men to the rear.

The last of the Band members, John Ryno died in 1939.

Dewitt’s Diary April 9, 1949 and 1950

Saturday, April 9, 1949 Temperature 32 cloudy. Windy from the north. Cool weather lately and too wet to plow. Cleaning up the north yard where we cut evergreen trees some time ago.

Went to Catherine creek with Bunny Haviland this afternoon. No fish. Clear tonight.

Sunday, April 9, 1950 A couple inches of snow for Easter Sunday in Rochester this morning. Temperature 28, sun out most of the time today. Came home at 4 o’clock from Rochester after having dinner with Lem and Alice. Temperature 24 tonight and clear. 

Coming this summer Plan to attend the July 29, 2017 Town of Covert Bicentennial Committee and Interlaken Historical Society sponsored Summer Social. In addition to music, food, games and fellowship you will be able to visit a Civil War company street, learn about the life of soliders and civilians and hear the roar of a 3" Ordinance Riffle (or some would say, a cannon).

February 8, 1864 A Civil War Diary

A change of focus from the winter weather and local happenings.

During the American Civil War a number of young men from the Town of Covert enlisted if various units. John L. Ryno was a member of Co. C 126^th NY Volunteers and the 3^rd Brigade Band, 3^rd Division, 2^nd Army Corps. The Interlaken Historical Society has copies of his diaries from 1862, 1863 and 1864.

A few days in February 1864.

February 6, 1864

Order came this AM to move promptly at 7. The Band got ready to go but General Owen said we need not go. Heavy skirmishing was going on all day until 5 P.M. when the Rebels made a charge on our Division and drove them across the river. Corp Chestnut of Co C was killed by a shell. Lieut Sheats of Headquarters’ Staff was wounded in the breast during the charge. Frank Rappleye started for home on a 10 day furlough this A.M. It has rained nearly all day.

John Ryno and Samuel Stone
detail from 1910 Civil War Veterans Memorial Day photograph
taken at Lake View Cemetery, Interlaken Historical Society photo #203

February 7, 1864

Warm and pleasant this A.M. Heavy firing was heard about 10 A.M. in direction of Raccoon Ford. Our Brigade returned to camp this P.M. feeling first rate. Co. C did not lose but one man killed. Received a letter from Annie last night.

February 8, 1864

All quiet in Front today. The troops have all returned to camp. Andrew Chestnut was buried this afternoon. He was killed by a bursting shell. It entered his right breast passing through his heart and coming out at the left hip.

February 9, 1864

Played for guard mounting at the usual time this A.M. Eugene [Holton] got his barrel this afternoon. It had some dried fruit, a pair of socks, and dried beef in it.

Dewitt’s Diary Saturday, February 8, 1964

Temperature 20, clear. Snow squalls and periods of sunshine all day. More like March weather.

We did some carpenter work in the house.

Took Lena Hiltbrand down a half bushel of potatoes.

Drove to Lodi after some plywood. [On February 6^th Dewitt noted he was building a tea table, which would be the carpenter work he refers to.]

Snow blowing, high of 25 today.

Clear temperature 20 tonight.