Letter from Albert G. Northrup - Civil War soldier - July 1862

Letter from Albert G. Northrup - Civil War Soldier
Company D, 27th NY Infantry

Chenango American, July 17, 1862

Harrison's Landing
on James River, Va.,
July 5, 1862

Editors American:  You have heard of the late movements of the Army, and a word or two from some of the Chenango boys will not be uninteresting to your readers; but I fear that I shall fail of interesting them much, for we are situated on the outpost of the pickets, and while I am looking on the paper with one eye, I must watch the Rebels with the other.

A week ago last Thursday we were surprised by hearing heavy and very rapid cannonading on our right, in the vicinity of Mechanicsville, and we soon learned that "Stonewall" Jackson had made his appearance in front of Gen. Porter's Division of the army, and that a bloody battle was going on.  The firing continued until late in the evening, when the report came that the enemy had been repulsed and driven back at the point of the bayonet.  The next morning the firing commenced at an early hour and Gen. Porter was ordered to fall back as the enemy had been heavily reinforced.  Our Regiment was ordered under arms in the morning of the 27th, and we marched down to one of the roads leading across the Chickahominy, and remained there the greater part of the day to check the enemy in case he should attempt to cross.  At about 4 P.M. our Brigade were ordered to cross the river lower down, and proceed to the scene of action, where we arrived at 6 P.M. and after resting an hour we were ordered up to take part in the conflict.  We formed in line of battle under a galling fire and charged up to some buildings behind which the Rebels were concealed.  They could not stand the sight of the cold steel and fled like sheep.  After balling position of the buildings for half an hour we were ordered to fall back as it was getting quite dark, and we could not distinguish friend from foe.  The Regiment came off the field in good order and with colors flying.  We suffered considerably having lost 175 men in killed, wounded and missing.  Our Company D lost two killed, eight wounded and four missing.  The Regiment was commanded by Lieut. Col. A.D. Adams, our colonel J.J. Bartlett being in command of the Brigade.  Your humble servant was in command of our company, as Captain is on the staff of Gen. Slocum, and the other lieut. was taken sick shortly before the action. The boys of our company behaved like veterans under a most scorching fire of the enemy and did not flinch but maintained their ground until ordered to retire.

Sergt. C.N. Elliott and Oscar Phelps, of Greene, were as cool and took as deliberate aim as though they were shooting at a target.  Phelps actually went three or four rods in advance of the Regiment, and I have no doubt that a Rebel hit the dust at every discharge of his piece.  The company did splendidly as a whole, but I am sorry to say that there were two or three that were miserable cowards, and left the ranks long before they were in range of the enemy's bullets.  I am glad to say that none of them were from Greene.  We left the battle field at 11 P.M. and recrossed the Chickahominy and went in our old camp, but were aroused at 3 A.M. by heavy firing in our front.  We were soon under arms and ready for battle again, but the main body of the army was in motion and falling back to the James River, so as to make that the base of operations.  Gen. Franklin's Corps consisting of Gens. Slocum's and Smith's Divisions acted as rear guard of the army, and did some heavy fighting while the army was changing from one position to the other.  Our Regiment was on picket two nights in succession, and were on the march almost constantly the rest of the time for a week, and the consequence is we were pretty much used up when we arrived here. We are now encamped in a very pleasant place about three miles from the landing, and I think we shall remain here for a few days unless we are attacked.

Independence day was passed very quietly with us until 3 P.M. when we were all drawn up in line to receive our Commanding General, and as he passed the different Regiments, he was cheered most enthusiastically--there is not a soldier in the army but what has perfect confidence in him.  One of our wounded men fell into the hands of the enemy and the remainder are with us and are doing well.  When I wrote you last I had sent in my resignation but it was the unanimous voice of the company for me to remain with them, and I withdrew my resignation.  Our address is Co. D, 27th Reg. N.Y.S.V., Franklin's Division, Washington, D.C.

Very respectfully,

A.G. Northrup
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Albert George Northrup was born 14 October 1833 in Fairfield, VT the son of Horatio  and Minerva (Bradley) Northrup.  He resided in Greene, Chenango Co., NY.  On 4 April 1862 he married Viola A. Warner.  Their family included a son (Albert) and two daughters (Emma, Mary).  On 2 May 1861 at Binghamton, NY when he was 27 years of age he enlisted in Company D, 27th New York Infantry.  He participated in the first battle of Bull Run, was promoted to Second lieutenant (July 22, 1861) and then to Captain (July 20, 1862).  He died in Greene of consumption about 1880 at the age of 47 years.

Capt. A.G. Northup is lying in a critical condition at his residence two miles north of the village [Greene,  NY].  His disease baffles the skill of the physicians.  [Chenango Semi Weekly Telegraph, June 14, 1879]