2005 Chapters 1 & 2
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"THE RED NECK TIES,"

VOLUME RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED

Scouting and Foraging - Tire Faithful Old Donkeys - Disloyalty of tire White Element - An Episode -Off for Burlington or '"Mud Camp"'- An Isolated Place - Companies L and M Join the Regiment -Col. Richardson Arrives and Takes Command - A Mounted Band - Shot on Picket - Saltpeter Works Destroyed - Disagreeable Weather - Night Alarms - Punished for Insulting Women.

In Camp at Cumberland - A Beautiful Location - An Occasional Drill - Receiving Horses - Execution of a Murderer - Political Excitement - The Men Discuss their Favorites for President - Casting their Votes - The Paymaster's Welcome Visit - The Fight at Green Springs Run - Death of Lieut. Hatch - Break Camp Again - Cold Weather - Distressing Accident - The Shenandoah Valley -The View From Maryland Heights.

After the Surrender - Off for North Carolina - The Orders Countermanded - The March to Washington- In Camp at Bladensburg - The Grand Review - Virginia Again - Consolidated with the Sixth New York Cavalry - Off for Louisville - Doing Patrol Duty - Mustered Out -En route Home - Paid Off and Disbanded.

The Mare Fanny - The Last Charge Made in the Army of the Potomac - A Prophetic Dream - Brave Soldier - Sergeant Conkling's Bravery - The Lacey Springs Affair - In Memoriam - Died in Prison--A Thrilling Adventure - Original Muster In Roll - List of Battles and Skirmishes -Etc., etc.

The year 1863 opened dark and gloomy for the Union Cause. Burnside's magnificent army had been hurled back from the heights of Fredericksburg the month previous, and thousands upon thousands of our brave boy's had been needlessly sacrificed. In the spring or 1863 Gen. Hooker took command of the Army of the Potomac, and the loyal people of the North, having confidence in him, awaited the coming shock with the expectation that victory would perch upon our banners. The battle of Chancellorville was fought and the gallant army was again beaten back with enormous loss. The enemy, emboldened by their success, now planned an invasion of the North. The term of the two years' men having expired, and the terrible losses sustained by the army in its numerous engagements necessitated the calling for more volunteers, and under that call the 15th New York Cavalry was organized and sent to the front.

In the meantime another change of commanders had occurred, Gen. George C. Meade assuming command. The rebel army was brought to bay at Gettysburg Pa., and there on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd of July, 1863, occurred one of the most desperate and sanguinary conflicts ever fought on the American continent, victory finally perching on the banners of the Union army. This battle was considered the turning point of the rebellion, the high water mark, for from that time on, under the vigorous blows of Grant, Sherman arid Sheridan, the structure began to decay and finally went to pieces at Appomattox Court House, Va., in the spring of 1865.

ITHACA, N. Y., April, 1891.

GENERAL HEADQUARTERS, STATE of NEW YORK.

Special Orders

Authority is hereby given for the reorganization of tile 12th regiment New York State Volunteers as a regiment of cavalry, to be known and designated as the Fifteenth Regiment of Cavalry, New York State Volunteers.

The following name officers are hereby appointed Colonel-Robert M. Richardson.

Lieutenant -Colonel - Augustus I. Root.

Col. Richardson will establish his headquarters at Syracuse, in, the County of Onondaga, and proceed with the organization of the regiment in conformity with the provisions of General Orders No. 10 War Department, current series, and General Orders No. 20 from this office, together with such orders and instructions as he may from time to time receive from these headquarters.

Sixty (60) days is allowed for the organization of this regiment, arid if riot completed in that time will be liable to consolidation.

By order of the Commander - in -Chief

Signed, JOHN T. SPRAGUE,

Co. A-Capt. Michael Auer.

Co. B-Capt. Thomas G. Putnam.

Co. C-Capt. Jefferson C. Bigelow.

Co. D-Capt. Orson R. Colegrove.

Co. E-Capt. George M. Ellicott.

Co. F-Capt. Leonard F. Hathaway.

Co. G-Capt. Wal1is M. Bover.

Co. H-Capt. John F. Moschell.

Co. I-Capt. Joseph Herron.

Co. K-Capt. John S. Hicks.

Co. L-Capt. Marshall M. Loydon.

Colonel-Robert M. Richardson.

Lt.-Col.-Augustus I. Root:

Majors-Joseph H. Wood, Robert H. S. Hyde.

Adjutant-Sydney Tuttle.

Quartermaster-Edward R. Trull.

Surgeon-George V. Skiff

Cook's ''Coffee House" was then in all of its glory. It was situated on the spot where the Vanderbilt House now stands, and its tables fairly groaned under the weight of its toothsome dainties. It was the headquarters in those days for the privates, especially about dinner time, and there was generally a scramble to see who could get in first, arid in many instances get out without paying for it. I attribute that to a trick learned during their two years' service and which they had imparted to the new recruits.

The scheme was to walk into the dining rooms, sit down to the table and eat a square meal, and watch when a crowd was about to go out and mingle with them. As they were not required to pay until they came out of course there was generally a crowd around the cashier's desk, which was the opportunity offered for the ''boys" to slide out.

Nightfall would generally find them all wending their way to camp to repose upon the soft side of a plank wrapped tip in their blankets, or upon the ground if the weather was favorable.

The camp was visited every day by the friends and relatives of the enlisted men, who came to see how they fared and were getting along.

The companies composing the first and second battalions were mustered into the United States service between August 8th and 26th, 1863, and those of the third battalion between November, 1863, and January, 1864. Some amusing incidents occurred during the muster in of some of the companies. One especially coming under the writer's notice was that of Sewell Babcock of Co. G. Babcock was quite small, and his comrades were doubtful of his passing muster. But he was full of patriotism and determined to go with his Company, so after being marched out to the place where the ceremony took place, and while the officers were going through the preliminaries, Babcock, who was in the rear rank, with the aid of some of his comrades, built a little mound of earth, covered it with grass, and stood on it. He passed. I have no doubt instances of the same nature occurred in other companies of the regiment.

''Fall in fall in,'' was the joyful sound heard on Saturday, August 29th, and Cos. A, ,B, C, and E took up their line of march from camp to the railroad station, where they boarded the cars and were off for Staten Island, their place of rendezvous, under command of Lieut. - Col. Root. On Monday, September 21st, two companies of the second battalion, under command of Capt. Colegrove, left for Staten Island.

On Friday, October 16th, the companies remaining at Syracuse boarded the cars and were transported direct to Washington, arriving there on Sunday, October 18th. The following day they went out to Camp Stoneman, where they found the first battalion in camp, they having arrived there nearly a month before and had received their horses and been out on several reconnaissance's.

Camp Stoneman was situated on a slight knoll commanding a beautiful view of the country. Washington lay to the north of us, the Potomac to the west, and the ancient city of Alexandria to the south. Although the camp was high and dry, there was quite an amount of sickness among the men, and several deaths, due no doubt to homesickness and a change of climate and diet.

In due course of time the second battalion drew clothing and sabres, and drilling commenced. Before many weeks every man was an expert in the handling of a sabre. Recruits continued to arrive daily, and were put through the same ordeal.

On the 29th of November, 1863, they received their horses and equipment's, and then commenced the fun for them as no doubt it was for the men of the first battalion. Scarcely one out of a hundred of the men composing the regiment had ever rode a horse to any great extent while at home, and to witness their attempts to mount and go through the evolution's was amusing to say the least. They were first put through a course of drill bareback for several days. After becoming used to that, a blanket was given them which afforded them some relief Next came saddles without stirrups, and the agony was increased tenfold. But we had enlisted to be soldiers, and must take the bitter with the sweet Finally stirrups were put on and our troubles were over, but some of the men were nearly used up with the hardships endured.

On the 30th of November, Co. I, Capt. Joseph Herron, was mustered in and put through the same ordeal.

A cavalryman's life is not an easy one by any means. The first thing in the morning he has to feed his horse. The horse eats his grain out of a nose bag which is held on by a strap that goes over his head. While he is eating the men groom him, which usually occupies an hour. After that the men get their breakfast and then go and water their horses. Guard mounting follows, then drill next comes dinner, to be followed by more drilling; then dress parade, feeding and watering horses again ,supper, and in a little while to bed. On a march or a scout no matter how tired you are, your horse has to be taken care of when you halt for the night, whether you have anything to eat or not ; for if neglected they would soon give out and become worthless.

Several patrols were sent out while we lay at Camp Stoneman, one detachment going as far as Port Tobacco, in Lower Maryland, 35 miles down the Potomac. On December 11th a detachment went over into Virginia after some horses.

During our stay here a Russian fleet consisting of four men-of-war, hove in sight and anchored in the Potomac in plain view of our camp. While lying there the vessels on several occasions were decked from top to bottom with flags and bunting, presenting a beautiful sight

Thus the days passed and the holidays approached. Boxes began to arrive from home containing dainties that only a soldier knew how to appreciate. There was an order issued from headquarters that all boxes must undergo an inspection, and if any liquor was found in them it was confiscated by the "powers that was.'' It was amusing to see how the boys trembled for fear it would be discovered. But their injunction to those at home how to prepare a box had been obeyed, and the box would generally pass muster Once inside the tent the soldier would throw off all restraint and a search commenced. The little 'joker" sometimes would be found inside of a roll of batter, again in a roll of tobacco, or inside of a cake or a loaf of bread and last, but not least, would serve as tile stuffing for a chicken or turkey.

Mail was sent and received from the absent ones daily. Passes were granted quite often to the men who wished to visit the capital. Four inches of snow fell on the 9th of January, 1864, which made the men think of their northern homes.

The first casualty in the regiment was that of private Augustus Holburton, who was shot and killed by guerrillas about the 1st of November, 1863.

Private John C. Clark, of Co. H, was also killed by a stray bullet while in the act of cooking his meal.

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