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.