Soldier's Letter, Civil War, Gettysburg, July 1863

 Chenango American, Greene, NY, July 16, 1863

Gettysburg - Incidents of the Battle

Capt. Cushing, Co. A, Fourth Regular artillery, was killed, and his battery suffered severely.  The gallantry of this officer is beyond praise.  Severely wounded early in the afternoon, he refused to leave his post beside his guns, but continued to pour grape and canister into the advancing columns of Rebels until they had reached the very muzzles of his pieces, and sure of their capture were attempting to turn them upon our forces, when they were driven off by our infantry. At this moment Capt. Cushing received his death wound, and fell lifeless to the earth.  Heaps of corpses and wounded in front of his battery this morning, told a terrible tale of the effectiveness of its fire.

None of the company were taken prisoners by the Rebels.  After the battle but one gun of this battery remained uninjured - the rest having been dismounted or destroyed by the terrible fire of the enemy, which for the time was concentrated on the batteries in this part of the field.  In front of this position fell dead the Rebel General Dick Garnett, who was courageously leading his men in this charge upon our batteries on Crow Hill.  The Rebel General Armstead was also wounded here while advancing at the head of his brigade.

About fifty yards in front of our batteries was a stone wall, running from our centre in a southwesterly direction, behind which laid several regiments, picking off the enemy as they advanced up the slope of the hill.  Notwithstanding the terrific fire poured into their ranks from our guns, so impetuous was the charge of the Rebels that they drove our men from their position, and were advancing upon our batteries several of which they captured, but the capture was only temporary. Gen. Gibbon's division, composed of Gens. Webb's, Harrell's and Hall's brigades, at the point of the bayonet, drove them back over the stone wall into the plain below.

Gen. Gibbon's division captured fourteen stand of colors and a large number of prisoners.  Twenty-eight stands of colors in all were captured by the Second corps.

Gen. Armstead, when taken prisoner, asked immediately for Gen. Meade, who was his classmate at West Point.

Col. Ward, of the Fifteenth Massachusetts, was killed.

Corp. Payden, of the First Minnesota, was captured, escaped, seized a musket and seized a rare opportunity, and actually made ten Rebels surrender.  While marching them to Gen. Gibbon's quarters, a Rebel behind a tree on the way drew a bead on him with his rifle.  Hayden saw him in time to bring his piece to a level, and cry out, "Surrender." The fellow actually threw down his gun and joined the cavalcade, and Hayden came in with eleven captives.

Wounded prisoners taken in Gettysburg this morning report that Gen. Bradley L. Johnson, of Maryland, was killed in Thursday's attack on our right.  He was struck by a shell while charging our lines at the head of his division.  Gen. Hood is also reported to have had his leg shot off, and from the effects of which he has since died.

Rebel officers with whom I have conversed frankly admit that the result of the last two days has been most disastrous to their cause, which depended, they say, upon the success of Lee's attempt to transfer the seat of war from Virginia to the Northern Border States.  A wounded Rebel Colonel told me that in the first and second days' fight, the Rebel losses were between ten and eleven thousand.  Yesterday they were greater still.

In one part of the field, in a space not more than twenty feet in circumference, in front of Gen. Gibbons' division, I counted seven dead rebels, three of whom were piled on top of each other.  And close by, in a spot not more than fifteen feet square, lay fifteen "graybacks" stretched in death.  These were the adventurous spirits who, in the face of the horrible stream of canister, shell and musketry, scaled the fence wall in their attempt upon our batteries.

Very large numbers of wounded were also strewn around not to mention more who had crawled away or been taken away. The field in front of the stone wall was literally covered with dead and wounded, a large proportion of whom were rebels.  When our musketry and artillery took effect they lay in swaths, as if mown down by a scythe.  This field presented a horrible sight, such as has never yet been witnessed during the war.  Not less than one thousand dead and wounded lay in a space of less than four acres in extent and that too, after numbers had crawled away to places of shelter.

The enemy's infantry, saving a small force of sharpshooters, was wholly out of sight at daylight on Saturday morning.  there was talk on Friday night, after the battle, of organizing a column of pursuit.

Before the fighting was over, before sunset, considerably, the Signal Officers reported that an immense train of army wagons was going out of Gettysburg northwest, on the road to Cashtown.  Oh! that they could have run against the stone wall of the Harrisburg army.

Vital Records, Norwich, NY, February 1865

 Chenango Union, February 15, 1865

Married:  In this village [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY], Feb. 13th, 1865, by Rev. A.N. Benedict, Lieut, K. Kinney, A.A.Q.M., of Greene [Chenango Co., NY], to Miss Julia E. Ransford, of Norwich.

Married:  At the residence of the bride's father, at Whaupanaucau [Chenango Co., NY], Feb. 11th, 1865, by P.L. Wescott, Esq., Mr. Oscar M. Figary, of Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], to Miss Ruth E. Jones, of North Norwich [Chenango Co., NY].

Married:  In this village [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY], Jan. 26th, by Rev. S. Scoville. Mr. Henry Campbell, of Columbus [Chenango Co., NY] to Miss Agnes Rutherford, of Edmeston [Otsego Co., NY].

Married:  At Walkill, Orange Co. [NY], Dec. 6th, by Rev. Mr. Beaty, Mr. Harvey Angell, of New Berlin [Chenango Co., NY] to Miss Amelia Bliven, of the former place.

Married:  In McDonough [Chenango Co., NY], Jan. 28th, by Rev. E. Holroyd, Mr. Gilbert H. Button, of Columbus [Chenango Co., NY] to Miss Lydia M. Huntley, of German [Chenango Co., NY].

Married:  In McDonough [Chenango Co., NY], Jan. 30th, by the same, Mr. Alonzo Hilliard to Miss Melissa L. Beckwith, all of McDonough.

Married:  In German [Chenango Co., NY], Feb. 1st, by the same, Mr. Leander Beebe of McDonough [Chenango Co., NY] to Miss Ellen A. Stuart, of German.

Married:  In Greene [Chenango Co., NY], Feb. 4th, by Rev. A.B. Jones, Mr. David D. Taft, of Triangle [Broome Co., NY] to Mrs. Maria Potter, of Smithville [Chenango Co., NY].

Married:  In New Berlin [Chenango Co., NY], Feb. 9th, by Rev. J.L. Jones, Mr. Lewellyn D. King to Miss Ellen E. Arnold, all of New Berlin.

Married:  In Hamilton [Madison Co., NY], Feb. 8th, by J.S. Smith, Esq. Mr. John Rockwell, late of Pennsylvania, to Miss Lucy Payson, of Smyrna [Chenango Co., NY].

Died:  In New Berlin [Chenango Co., NY], Feb. 1st, Mr. Walter Hyer, aged 78 years.

Died:  In Sherburne [Chenango Co., NY], Feb. 2d, Miss Mary Conley, aged 23 years.

Died:  In Sherburne [Chenango Co., NY], Feb. 7th, Mr. Elijah Owen, aged 86 years.

Died:  In Greene [Chenango Co., NY], Feb. 2d, John C. [Wheeler], infant son of Charles B. Wheeler, aged 6 months.

Died:  In McDonough [Chenango Co., NY], Feb. 4, Addie D. [Eccleston], son of Stephen C. and Emily Eccleston, aged 4 years.

Died:  In Smithville [Chenango Co., NY], Feb. 3, Lattie L. [Davis], daughter of David L. and Mary A. Davis, aged 3 years.

Died:  At Andersonville, S.C., Oct. 24th, 1864, Edgar B. [Tyler], son of Dea. Orville Tyler, aged 22 years.  He left his home in South New Berlin [Chenango Co., NY] in the Spring of 1861 to visit his friends west, and enlisted in the fall of the same year, in the 10th Wisconsin volunteers.  He was taken prisoner, after two days fighting, at Chickamauga; was taken to Libby prison, from there to Danville, and from there to Andersonville, where he remained from May 1864 until his death. A noble young man, beloved by all who knew him, he freely gave himself a sacrifice for his country's good.  He professed and possessed the faith that makes dying moments happy.  "The air is full of farewells to the dying, / And mournings for the dead."

Chenango Telegraph, Norwich, NY, February 22, 1865

Married:  PAUL - PURDY:  In Plymouth [Chenango Co., NY], Feb. 12?, by Rev. A. M. Beemet, Mr. Alfred Paul of North Norwich [Chenango Co., NY] and Mrs. Julia A. Purdy, of Plymouth.

Married:  ALDRICH - CRANDALL:  In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], 8th inst. by Rev. J.C. Ransom, Mr. George W. Aldrich to Miss Elisabeth Crandall, both of Plymouth.

Married:  TAFT - POTTER:  In Greene [Chenango Co., NY], Feb. 4th, by Rev. A. B. Jones, David D. Taft of Triangle [Broome Co., NY] and Mrs. Maria Potter of Smithville [Chenango Co., NY].

Married:  FRINK - GILE:  In North Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], Feb -?- by Rev. W. Burnside, Geo. W. Frink and Ruamia Gile, both of North Norwich.

Married:  FISHER - WILKINS:  At the Church of the Holy Innocents, Albany [Albany Co., NY], Feb. 16, by the Rev. Wm. S. Boardman, Rector, Francis H. Fisher, Editor Chenango American, Greene [Chenango Co., NY], and Miss Louise Wilkins, daughter of John R. Wilkins, Esq., of Albany.

Married:  LEWIS - SANFORD:  In North Adams, Mass., Feb. 7th at the residence of the bride's father, by the Rev. I.M. Burrington, Samuel E. Lewis of Preston [Chenango Co., NY] to Miss Lemira D. Sanford, of the former place.

Died:  TERWILLIGER:  In Greene [Chenango Co., NY], 13th inst. Sarah Terwilliger, aged 71 years.

Died:  DAVIS:  In Guilford [Chenango Co., NY], 11th inst. Ira B. Davis, aged -?- years and -?- months.

Died:  WHEELER:  In Greene [Chenango Co., NY] Feb. 2d, John C. Wheeler, aged -?- months.

Died:  STRATTON:  In Coventry [Chenango Co., NY], 10th inst. James O. Stratton aged -?- years.

Died:  PARKER:  In this village [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY], Feb. 18, Mrs. -?- Parker, widow of the late Chas. Parker.

Died:  FRENCH:  At P......a, Ill., of congestion of the -?- on Feb. 1, Edwin French, son of James French of this town [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY], aged 22 years.  He leaves a wife and child in Guilford [Chenango Co., NY].

Returned from the War

We are glad to welcome Colo. J.O. Martin home again.  He has been in constant and active service since the commencement of the war, having been one of the first in this village [Norwich, Chenango co., NY] to enlist under Capt. Tyrrel, and has won his way, by his merit alone, to the Lieut. Colonel rank, which position he has been reluctantly obliged from ill health to resign.  He was originally in the Army of the Potomac, but has since been under General Sherman in Tennessee, and after assisting in the capture of Atlanta, marched with our army from that city to Savannah.  In all his service he has done nobly, had proved himself a brave and competent officer and soldier.  We regret that he has been ill. 

Vital Records, Norwich, NY, February 1865

 Chenango Union, Norwich, NY, February 1, 1865

Married:  In South New Berlin [Chenango Co., NY], Jan. 21st, 1865, by Rev. J.H. Chamberlain, Mr. Cornelius Brown of Madison [Madison Co., NY] to Mrs. Mary A. Green of Norwich [Chenango Co., NY].

Married:  In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], Jan. 23d, by Rev. Wm. C. Bowen, Mr. Henry McQueen, of Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], to  Miss Frances K. Squires, of Smithville [Chenango Co., NY].

Married:  At the M.E. Parsonage, in East Hamilton [Madison Co., NY], Jan. 25, by Rev. T.P. Halsted, Mr. Andrew J. Inman, of Plymouth [Chenango Co., NY] to Miss Helen E. Geer, of Smyrna [Chenango Co., NY].

Married:  In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY] Jan. 25th, by Rev. G.F. Peck, Mr. Oliver P. Miner, of Preston [Chenango Co., NY], to Miss Ruama Gleason, of Oxford.

Married:  In Greene [Chenango Co., NY], Jan. 19th, by Rev. F. Rogers, Mr. John S. Brown to Miss Mary Nichols, all of Greene.

Married:  In Lincklaen [Chenango Co., NY], Jan. 24th, at the residence of the bride's parents, by Rev. A.G> Clark of DeRuyter, Mr. P.L. Champlin of Buffalo, N.Y. [Erie Co.], to Miss Phebe Miller, of Lincklaen.

Died:  In Pharsalia [Chenango Co., NY], suddenly, on Wednesday evening, Jan. 25th, Mr. John Jerome Grant, aged 35 years.

Died:  At Van Buren Corners [Chenango Co., NY], Jan. 25th, Miss Ellen L. Thompson, aged 16 years.

Died:  In East Greene [Chenango Co., NY], Jan. 20th, Mr. Daniel A. Tremain, of Co. E 114th Reg. N.Y.S.V., aged 21 years, son of Richard Tremain.

Died:  In McDonough [Chenango Co., NY], Dec. 19th, of diptheria, Levi S. Lord, aged 8 years and 10 months.

Died:  In McDonough [Chenango Co., NY], Jan. 19th, Charles [Beardsley], son of the late Lucius Beardsley, aged 14 years.

Died:  In Smithville [Chenango Co., NY], Jan. 21st, Mr. David Hough, aged 24 years.

Died:  In New Orleans, Nov. 12th, Corporal Thomas S. Wyooff, Co. H, 11th Rhode Island Heavy Artillery, of Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], aged 53 years.

Died:  In McDonough [Chenango Co., NY], Jan. 23d, 1865, of diptheria, Ellen Luthera [Cummings], youngest daughter of Abram and Louis Cummings, aged 14 years, 11 months and 23 days.  Sleep on, dear sister, and take thy rest, / Thou so lovely and so fair; / No cruel pain shall flush thy tender brow, / No sweeping tempest shall disturb thee now.  

Strange Affair in Madison County 

A coroner's inquest has recently been held at Pratt's Hollow, near Morrisville ]Madison Co., NY], over the body of Sally Record, who had for many years been the housekeeper of Lucius E. Hannum, and was his maiden aunt. She had not been seen for some time, and neighbors suspecting something wrong, went to the house and found her remains in an upper room, frozen, and in a condition which indicated that she had been dead for two or three weeks.  Hannum's story is that she died the Wednesday previous (the discovery was on Friday) and that he carried her upstairs, because he had read that bodies packed in ice would keep.  He could give no reasons for not informing the neighbors of her death.  It is supposed she died of neglect and starvation  The day before the discovery, a person called at Hannum's house, and asked to see Miss Record, but was rudely refused admittance.  Hannum had resided with his aunt from childhood, and had had frequent altercations with her.  She was between seventy and eighty years of age. the result of the inquest is not known.

Chenango Union, Norwich, NY, February 8, 1865

Married:  In Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], Jan. 24th, 1865, by Rev. S. Scoville, Mr. Charles C. Rogers of Coventry [Chenango Co., NY], to Miss Mary A. Franklin, daughter of George Franklin.

Married:  In Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], Feb. 4th, by P.L. Wescott, Esq., Mr. Joseph Van Akin, to Miss Aurelia Shepard, both of Franklin, Delaware Co., [NY].

Married:  In Pharsalia [Chenango Co., NY], Feb. 1, by William T. Priest, Esq., Mr. Lafayette Curtis, of Nelson, Madison Co. [NY], to Miss Mary Harrigon of DeRuyter [Madison Co., NY].

Married:  In Springfield, Ill. Dec. 14th, 1865, by Rev. L.P. Clever, D.D., Thomas L. Knapp Esq., formerly of New Berlin [Chenango Co., NY], to Miss Alice M. Huntington, daughter of Hon. George L. Huntington, of Springfield.

Married:  In Buffalo [Erie Co., NY], Dec. 29th, by Rev. E. Marvin, William Marvin, A.M., of Hoboken, to Miss Susan C. Clarke, daughter of rev. Ethan Ray Clarke, of Buffalo.

Died:  In this village [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY], Jan. 15th, 1865, of consumption, Jane A. [Eyrich], aged 24 years.

Died:  In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], Jan. 12th, Lucretia [Ingraham], wife of Isaac Ingraham, aged 49 years.

Died:  At Sherburne [Chenango Co., NY], Old Four Corners, Feb. 3d, Mr. David Wilbur, aged 93 years.

Died:  In Guilford [Chenango Co., NY], Jan. 25th, Mr. Ephraim Brooks, aged 60 years.

Died:  In Croton, Del. Co. [NY], Jan. 30th, Miss Susan E. Merrill, formerly of Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], aged 26 years.

Died:  At the residence of her son-in-law, William Dickle, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Jan. 23d, 1865, Mrs. Betsey Fish, formerly of Oxford [Chenango Co., NY] aged 78 yr's.

Died:  In Buffalo [Erie Co., NY], Jan. 6th, of typhoid fever, Ray [Clarke], son of Rev. Ethan Ray and Mary E. Clarke, aged 10 years.

Died:  At the McCray House, Titusville, Pa., January 26th, of quick consumption, Mr. Seneca G. Secor, son of John B. Secor, of Mt. Upton, Chenango Co. [NY].  He was confined to his bed but a few days.  He went to Titusville on the 9th of November, with his companion, to work; but alas!  his stay was short.  He was brought back to Mount Upton, on the 28th, for interment, and has left a wife and a large circle of relatives and friends to mourn his loss, but trusting our loss is his gain.

Death of Richard Morris

Died:  Recently, at his residence, Upton Park, in the town of Butternuts, Otsego Co. [NY], Richard Morris, aged 82 years, son of the late Gen. Jacob Morris, and oldest grandson of Lewis Morris, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.

Richard Morris was born in Philadelphia, on the 18th of September, 1792, receiving baptism from the venerable Bishop White, Chaplain of the first Congress.  Jacob Morris, his father, was a prominent officer in the Revolutionary army, serving as Aid to Gen. Charles Lee.  He was an active participant in most of the battles of the Revolution, taking a distinguished part in the gallant defense of Fort Moultrie.  In the year 1787 he moved to Otsego County with his family, and settled on a tract of land given him by his father Lewis Morris, and now known as the Morris Land Patent.

Richard Morris, at that time, a boy of tender years, has lived to see a "howling wilderness" literally "blossom as the rose."  Actuated by the patriotic spirit of his forefathers, in the latter part of the year 1814 he organized a company of cavalry, of which he became Captain, to go to the defense of the frontier.  Peace being happily declared, his services were not required.

An unambitious man, caring more for the endearments of domestic life, and agricultural pursuits, than for empty honors, he was known and beloved by his neighbors and tenants, for his many unobtrusive acts of benevolence, and his spirit of enterprise in every good work.  An humble follower of, and believer in, Him who preached peace on earth and good will toward man, he never ceased to deplore "this cruel war," with the consequent frightful sacrifice of human life.

Having lived beyond the age assigned to man as a period of "labor and sorrow," he bore a long illness with unmurmuring fortitude.  His last hours soothed and ministered unto by loving hearts and gentle hands, he sank calmly to rest, leaving to his children and grandchildren the heritage of an unsullied character and an honorable home, and above all, the comfort of knowing that having passed beyond "the dark valley," he had gone where his many virtues and Christian life will insure him a crown of glory.

Soldier's Letter, Civil War, Gettysburg, July 1863

 Chenango American, Greene, NY, July 16, 1863

Gettysburg Battle

Headquarters Army of Potomac, Saturday Night, July 4

Who can write the history of a battle whose eyes are immovably fastened upon a central figure of transcendingly absorbing interest--the dead body of an oldest born [Lieut. Wilkinson] crushed by a shell in a position where a battery should never have been sent, and abandoned to death in a building where surgeons dared not to stay?

The battle of Gettysburg!  I am told that it commenced on the 1st of July, a mile north of the town, between two weak brigades of infantry and some doomed artillery and the whole force of the Rebel army.  Among other costs of this error was the death of Reynolds.  Its value was priceless, however, though priceless was the young and old with which it was bought.  The error put us on the defensive, and gave us the choice of position  From the moment that our artillery and infantry rolled back thro' the main street of Gettysburg and rolled out of the town to the circle of eminence south of it, we were not to attack, but to be attacked.

The risks, the difficulties and the disadvantages of the coming battle were the enemy's.  Ours were the heights for artillery; ours the short, inside lines for maneuvering and reinforcing; ours the cover of stone walls, fences and the crests of hills.  the ground upon which we were driven to accept battle was wonderfully favorable to us.  A popular description of it would be to say that it was in form an elongated and somewhat sharpened horseshoe, with the toe to Gettysburg and the heel to the south.

Lee's plan of battle was simple.  He massed his troops upon the east side of this shoe of position, and thundered on it obstinately to break it. The shelling of our batteries from the nearest overlooking hill, and the unflinching courage and complete discipline of the Army of the Potomac, repelled the attack.  It was renewed at the point of the shoe, renewed desperately at the southwest heel, renewed on the western side with an effort consecrated to success by Ewell's earnest oaths, and on which the fate of the invasion of Pennsylvania was fully put at stake.  Only a perfect infantry and an artillery educated in the midst of charges of hostile brigades could possibly have sustained this assault.

Hancock's corps did sustain it, and has covered itself, with immortal honors by its constancy and courage.  The total wreck of Cushing's battery, the list of its killed and wounded, the loss of officers, men and horses Cowen sustained, and the marvelous outspread upon the board of death of dead soldiers and dead animal, of dead soldiers in blue and dead soldiers in grey, more marvelous to me than anything I have ever seen in war, are ghastly and shocking testimony to the terrible fight of the Second Corps that no one will gainsay.  That Corps will ever have the distinction of breaking the pride and power of the Rebel invasion.

For such details as I have the heart for.  The battle commenced at daylight, on the side of the horse shoe position, exactly opposite to that which Ewell had sworn to crush through. Musketry preceded the rising of the sun. A thick wood veiled this fight, but out of its leafy darkness arose the smoke and the surging and swelling of the fire, from intermittent to continuous, and crushing, told of the wise tactics of the Rebels of attacking in force and changing their troops.  Seemingly the attack of the day was to be made through that woods. The demonstration was protracted, it was absolutely preparative, but there was no artillery fire accompanying the musketry, and shrewd officers in our western front mentioned, with the gravity due to the fact, that the Rebels had felled trees at intervals upon the edge of the wood they occupied in face of our position. These were breast works for the protection of artillery men.

Suddenly, and about ten in the forenoon, the firing on the east side, and everywhere about our lines, ceased.  A silence as of deep sleep fell upon the field of battle.  Our army cooked, ate and slumbered. The rebel army moved 120 guns to the west, and massed there, Longstreet's Corps and Hill's Corps, to hurl them upon the really weakest point of our entire position.

Eleven o'clock, twelve o'clock, one o'clock.  In the shadow cast by the tiny farm house 16 by 20, which Gen. Meade had made his headquarters, lay wearied staff officers and tired reporters.  There was not wanting to the peacefulness of the scene, the singing of a bird, which had a nest in a peach tree within the tiny yard of the whitewashed cottage.  In the midst of its warbling, a shell screamed over the house, instantly followed by another, and another, and in a moment the air was full of the most complete artillery prelude to an infantry battle that was ever exhibited. Every size and form of shell known to British and to American gunnery shrieked, whirled, moaned, whistled and wrathfully fluttered over our ground.

As many as six in a second, constantly two in a second, bursting and screaming over and around the headquarters, made a very hell of fire that amazed the oldest officers.  They burst in the yard, burst next to the fence on both sides, garnished as usual with the hitched horses of aids and orderlies.  The fastened animals reared and plunged with terror.  Then one fell, then another, sixteen laid dead and mangled before the fire ceased, still fastened by their halters, which gave the expression of being wickedly tied up to died painfully.  these brute victims of a cruel war touched all hearts.

Through the midst of the storm of screaming and exploding shells, an ambulance, driven by its frenzied conductor at full speed, presented to all of us the marvelous spectacle of a horse going rapidly on three legs. A hinder one had been shot off at the hock.  A shell tore up the little step at the Headquarters Cottage, and ripped bags of oats as with a knife.  Another soon carried off one of its two pillars. Soon a spherical case burst opposite the open door, another ripped through the low garret. The remaining pillar went almost immediately to the howl of a fixed shot that Wentworth must have made.

During this fire, the houses at twenty and thirty feet distant, were receiving their death, and soldiers in Federal blue were torn to pieces in the road and died with the peculiar yells that blend the extorted cry of pain with horror and despair.  Not an orderly, not an ambulance, not a straggler was to be seen upon the plain swept by this tempest of orchestral death thirty minutes after it commenced. Were not one hundred and twenty pieces of artillery, trying to cut from the field every battery we had in position to resist their purposed infantry attack, and to sweep away the slight defenses behind which our infantry were waiting?

Forty minutes - fifty minutes - counted on watches that ran!  Oh, so languidly.  Shells through the two lower rooms.  A shell into the chimney that daringly did not explode.  Shells in the yard. The air thicker and fuller and more deafening with the howling and whirling of these infernal missiles.  The chief of staff struck - Seth Williams - loved and respected through the army, separated from instant death by two inches of space vertically measured.  An Aide bored with a fragment of iron through the bone of the arm. Another, cut with an exploded piece. And the time measured on the sluggish watches was one hour and forty minutes.

Then there was a lull, and we knew that the Rebel infantry was charging.  And splendidly they did this work - the highest and severest test of the stuff that soldiers are made of.  Hill's division, in line of battle, came first on the double quick.  Their muskets at the "right shoulder-shift."  Longstreet's came as the support, at the usual distance, with war cries and a savage insolence as yet untutored by defeat.  They rushed in perfect order across the open field up to the very muzzles of the guns, which tore lands through them as they came.  but they met men who were their equals in spirit, and their superiors in tenacity.

There never was better fighting since Thermopylae than was done yesterday by our infantry and artillery. The Rebels were over our defenses. They had cleared cannoneers and horses from one of the guns, and were whirling it round to use upon us.  The bayonet drove them back.  But so hard pressed was this brave infantry that at one time, from the exhaustion of their ammunition, every battery upon the principal crest of attack was silent, except Croen's.  His service of grape and canister was awful.  It enabled our line, out numbered two to one, first to beat back Longstreet, and then to charge upon him, and to take a great number of his men and himself prisoners.

Strange sight!  So terrible was our musketry and artillery fire, that when Armstead's brigade was checked in its charge, and stood reeling, all of its men dropped their muskets and crawled on their hands and knees underneath the stream of shot till close to our troops where they made signs of surrendering. They passed through our ranks scarcely noticed, and slowly went down the slope to the road in the rear. Before they got there the grand charge of Ewell, solemnly sworn to and carefully prepared, had failed.

The rebels had retreated to their lines, and opened anew the storm of shell and shot from their 120 guns.  Those who remained at the riddled headquarters will never forget the crouching and dodging and running of the Butternut colored captives when they got under this, their friends fire.  It was appalling to as good soldiers as even they were.

What remains to say of the fight?  It straggled surily on the middle of the horse shoe on the west, grew big and angry on the heel at the southwest, lastest, there till eight o'clock in the evening, when the fighting Sixth corps went joyously by as a reinforcement through the wood, bright with coffee pots on the fire.

I leave details to my excellent friend and associate Mr. Henry.  My pen is heavy, Oh, You dead, who at Gettysburg have baptized with your blood the second birth of Freedom in America, how you are to be envied!  I rise from a grave whose wet clay I have passionately kissed, and I look up  and see Christ spanning this battlefield with his feet and reaching fraternal and lovingly up to heaven.  His right hand opens the gate of Paradise, with his left he beckons to these mutilated, bloody, swollen forms to ascend.

Vital Records, Oxford, NY, September 7, 1864

 Oxford Times, September 7, 1864

Married:  In this village [Oxford, Chenango Co., NY], on the 31st ult. by Rev. L.E. Spafford, Mr. John G. Japhet of Oxford, to Miss Ellen Pettis of Greene [Chenango Co. NY]

Married:  In Utica [Oneida Co., NY], on the 23d ult., by Rev. Dr. Fowler, Mr. Alton D. Root to Miss Lydia L. Keller, both of Oxford [Chenango Co., NY].

Died:  In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], on the 3d inst., Mr. Benjamin Harriott, aged 54 years.

Died:  In McDonough [Chenango Co., NY], on 8th Aug. Betsey Elizabeth [Moore], youngest daughter of Julian B. and Isabella Moore, aged 1 year, 8 months and 8 days.

Died:  In General Hospital, David's Island, New York Harbor, on 21st Aug. of typhoid fever, Mr. Julian B. Moore of the 4th N.Y. Heavy Artillery, aged 33 years.

Died:  In this village [Oxford, Chenango Co., NY], on the 4th inst., Mr. John Hull, aged 93 years.

Died:  In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], on the 31st ult. Mr. John Bartholomew, aged 44 years.

Died:  In New Berlin [Chenango Co., NY], on the 28th of July, Nettie E. Adams, wife of William Adams, aged 18 years and 6 months.

Died:  In Smithville [Chenango Co., NY], Aug. 23d, Mr. Isaac Rorapaugh, aged 31 years.

Died:  In Earlville [Madison Co., NY], Aug. 22d, Fanny [Crain] wife of Mr. Ebenezer Crain, aged 57 years.

Died:  In New Orleans, Aug. 9, Mr. John H. Brooks, formerly of Guilford [Chenango Co., NY], aged 31 years.

Oxford Times, September 14, 1864

Married:  In Sherburne [Chenango Co., NY], on the 16th ult. by Rev. Wm. Russell, Mr. Wm. H. Brooks of Columbus [Chenango Co., NY] to Mrs. Ann M. Baker of Sherburne.

Married:  In Cincinnatus [Cortland Co., NY], on the 6th inst. by rev. Mr. Rogers, Mr. Richard M. Birdsall of Greene [Chenango Co., NY] to Miss Mary M. Strobeck.

Died:  In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], on the 6th inst., Frank E. [Lewis], son of Henry and Mercy Lewis, aged 8 years.

Died:  At Sherburne Four Corners [Chenango Co., NY], on the 5th inst., Mr. Oliver Babcock, aged 86 years.

Died:  At the Satterlee General Hospital, West Philadelphia, on the 21st Aug. of typhoid fever, Mr. Reuben Southworth, son of Rev. Wm. Southworth, recently of Guilford [Chenango Co., NY], aged 22 years.

Died:  In Smithville [Chenango Co., NY], on the 4th inst. Mary A. [Warner], wife of Mr. Wesley Warner, aged 24 years.

Died:  In Guilford [Chenango Co., NY], Aug. 9th, Lucy Helen [Odell], daughter of James A. Odell, aged 27 years.

Oxford Times, September 21, 1864

Married:  In Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], on the 15th inst. by Rev. James McDermott, Mr. James Keyes to Miss Mary J. Redmond, both of Oxford [Chenango Co., NY].

Married:  In West Salem, Wis., Aug. 27th, by Rev. Dr. Stanley, Mr. Avery Stratton of South Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], to Miss Louesa A. Wood of Lacrose County, Wis.

Married:  In Greene [Chenango Co., NY], on the 12th inst. by Rev. F. Rogers, Mr. George C. Roberts to Miss Helen J. Gray, all of Greene.

Married:  In Chicago, Ill. on the 1st inst. by J.H. Harrington, Esq., Mr. Ezra W. Hubbard of Greene [Chenango Co., NY] to Miss Harriet M. Keder of Rock Island, Ill.

Died:  In this village [Oxford, Chenango Co., NY], Sept. 3d, of dropsy, Cora [Haight], daughter of Horace and Harriet Haight, aged 9 years.  Cora was a very affectionate child, and fondly loved her parents. She talked much of Jesus and Heaven,  and when asked if she was afraid to die, she replied "No, but I do not want to leave mother."  Though a great sufferer, she was exceedingly patient.  It was her off repeated wish that her parents might meet her in Heaven.

Died:  At Cleveland, Ohio, Aug. 25th, William D. [McNeil], son of Charles McNeil, formerly of this village, aged 20 years.

Died:  In Sherburne [Chenango Co., NY], on the 11th inst., Mrs. George C. Davis, aged 56 years.

Died:  In Eauclaire, Wis., Aug. 13th, at the residence of her son-in-law, Martin Daniels, Esq., Mrs. Orelia Allen, aged 78 years and 10 months.  Mrs. A. came to McDonough [Chenango Co., NY] with her husband, the late Jonathan Allen, thirty-six years ago, and until two years ago resided there.  She was born in Canterbury, Conn., and inherited the virtues and sterling qualities of mind and heart for which the daughters of New England are everywhere celebrated..  She lived the life, and died the death of a Christian, and has gone to her reward in Heaven.

Vital Records, Norwich, NY, January 1865

 Chenango Telegraph, Norwich, NY, January 4, 1865

Married:  FOLLETT - HOLCOMB:  At the residence of the bride, Dec. 27, by Rev. L.C. Queal, Isaac H. Follett, of Albany, to Valerie  Holcomb, of Norwich [Chenango Co., NY].

Married:  PARCELLE - KENYON:  In Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], Jan. 1, by Rev. L.C. Queal, Albert L. Parcelle to Celia O. Kenyon, both of Norwich.

Married:  LEET - STOCKWELL:  In Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], Jan. 1, by Rev. L.C. Queal, Orton R. Leet, of Guilford, Conn., and Emma Stockwell, of Oxford [Chenango Co., NY].

Married:  CROSBY - ROGERS:  In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], Dec. 21st, by Rev. J.C. Ransom, James B. Crosby, of Preston [Chenango Co., NY] to Miss Adelia Rogers of Guilford [Chenango Co., NY].

Married:  ROOT - INGRAHAM:  In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], Dec. 11, by Rev. L. Spafford, A.D. Root to Miss R.E. Ingraham, all of Oxford.

Married:  KING - ANDREWS:  In Coventry [Chenango Co., NY], Dec. 4th, by Rev. J.P. Turnbut, Addison King of Sandford [Broome Co., NY] and Sylva Jane Andrews of Coventry.

Married:  AVERY - HUBBARD:  At the Chenango House in this village [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY], Jan. 1st, by P.L. Wescott, Esq., Stephen L. Avery of Norwich and Miss Mary A. Hubbard, of Hartwick, Otsego Co., [NY].

Married:  RICE - RUSSELL:  In Afton [Chenango Co., NY], Dec. 26, at the residence of the bride's father, Mr. Geo. C. Rice of Norwich [Chenango Co., NY] and Jennie A. [Russell], only daughter of Calvin Russell.

Married:  BURGESS - LEONARD:  In Sherburne [Chenango Co., NY], Nov. 26, by Rev. M.G. Wadsworth, Alex. Burgess and Unis J. Leonard, both of Norwich [Chenango Co., NY].

Married:  WIDGERS - MINER:  In Sherburne [Chenango Co., NY], Dec. 15, by Rev. M.G. Wadsworth, Ralph D. Widgers, and Huldah M. Miner, both of Preston [Chenango Co., NY].

Married:  RICE - ADAMS:  In Sherburne [Chenango Co., NY], Dec. 27, by Rev. M.G. Wadsworth, Clark T. Rice, of Hamilton [Madison Co., NY], to Rhody F. Adams of Sherburne.

Married:  THOMPSON - MULLONEY:  By the same, same date, at the M.E. Parsonage, Norman R. Thompson of Eaton [Madison Co., NY] to Jane Malloney, of Lebanon [Madison Co., NY].

Married:  MYERS - BRYAN:  At the residence of the bride's father, Dec. 26, by Rev. B. B. Hobbs, Ruth A. Myers and Edwin C Bryan, all of Columbus [Chenango Co., NY].

Married:  COMSTOCK - STUART:  At the bride's residence, in German [Chenango Co., NY] by Rev. E. Holroyd, Dec. 27, S. Lewis Comstock of McDonough [Chenango Co., NY], to Frances E. Stuart.

Married:  BLIVEN - SMITH:  In and of McDonough [Chenango Co., NY], Dec. 28th, by Rev. E. Holroyd, Mr. Almeron O. Bliven to Miss Jane B. [Smith], daughter of Wm. Smith, Esq.

Married:  AMES - CRANDALL:  In Columbus [Chenango Co., NY], Dec. 25th, by S. L. Brown, Esq., Mr. Charles G. Ames and Miss Rhoda R. Crandall, both of Columbus.

Married:  BROWN - BOWEN:  In Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], Dec. 26, by Rev. A. N. Benedict, Mr. Edwin M. Brown and Miss Emma C. [Bowen] only daughter of W.H. Bowen, Esq.,

Married:  BRISTOL - GARDENER:  In Smyrna [Chenango Co., NY], Jan. 2, '65, by Rev. Wm. Burnside, Josesh P. Bristol of Lebanon [Madison Co., NY] to Miss Francelia O. Gardener of Smyrna.

Married:  READ - WHIPPLE:  In Binghamton [Broome Co., NY], 22d inst., by Rev. G.H. Blakeslee, Mr. H.D. Read, of Smithville [Chenango Co., NY] to Miss Elvira S. [Whipple], only daughter of George A. Whipple, Esq., of Greene [Chenango Co., NY].

Died:  ROGERS:  In Preston [Chenango Co., NY], on the 23d ult., Miss Alida M. Rogers, aged 18 years.

Died:  ORTON:  At his residence, in Lisle [Broome Co., NY], Dec. 26, Rev. A. G. Orton, D.D., formerly of Greene [Chenango Co., NY], aged 75 years.

Died:  RIDER:  In Plymouth [Chenango Co., NY], on the 21st ult. George F. [Rider], youngest son of Dorcas and Lewis Rider, aged 1 year, 3 months and 21 days.

Died:  RIDER:  In Plymouth [Chenango Co., NY], on the 25 ult. Willey H. [Rider], son of Dorcas and Lewis Rider, aged3 years and 6 months.

Died:  RIDER:  In Plymouth [Chenango Co., NY] on the 28th inst., Henry E. [Rider], son of Dorcas and Lewis Rider, aged 8 years and 16 days.

Died:  PHETTEPLACE:  In this town [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY], Dec. 23, of chronic Diarhoea, Francis E. Phetteplace, a member of the 22d N.Y. Cavalry, and son of David Phetteplace, of this town.

Died:  WICKHAM:  In Sherburne [Chenango Co., NY], 23d ult, Dilla [Wickham] widow of the late Lewis Wickham, aged 49 years.

Died:  HATCH:  In Sherburne [Chenango Co., NY], 27th ult. Joel Hatch, Jr., son of the late memorable Joel Hatch Esq., 78 yrs.

Died:  KEATING:  At Morganzia Hospital, recently, of typhoid fever, Mr. Edwin P. Keating, aged 25 years.  Mr. Keating was from McDonough [Chenango Co., NY].

Chenango Telegraph, Norwich, NY, January 11, 1865

Married:  LINCOLN - SANDERS:  In New Berlin [Chenango Co., NY], Jan. 2, 1865, by Rev. Ray Woodmansee, Wm. E. Lincoln of Lisle [Broome Co., NY] to Mary E. Sanders of Norwich [Chenango Co., NY].

Married:  ROBBINS - CALKINS:  In Otselic [Chenango Co., NY], Jan. 3, by Rev. J. Storre, Noyce Robbins and Peruda Calkins, all of Otselic.

Married:  SACKETT - ROBERTS:  In Plymouth [Chenango Co., NY], Jan. 3d by Rev. A.M. Bennett, Mr. Addison L. Sackett and Miss Julia A. Roberts, all of Plymouth.

Married:  WILCOX - WALKER:  In Sherburne [Chenango Co., NY], Jan. 4, by Rev. M.B. Wadsworth, L... Wilcox of Rome [Oneida Co., NY] to Helen E. Walker of Sherburne.

PATTERSON - LOYD:  In East Greene [Chenango Co., NY], on the 27th ult. by Rev. L.E. Spafford, -?- B. Patterson, of Hamden, Del. Co. [NY] to Miss Emily J. Loyd, of East Greene.

TURNER - WALKER:  In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], 29th? ult. by Rev. W.C. Bowen, R.M. Turner and Christina V. Walker, all of Oxford.

BENEDICT - SMITH:  In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], Dec. 29, by Rev. E.H. Payson, Mr. B.E. Benedict and Miss Luvina Smith, both of McDonough [Chenango Co., NY].

BOSWORTH - SPRY:  In this village [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY], Jan. 4, by Rev. L.C. Queal, Mr. Josiah Bosworth of Pharsalia [Chenango Co., NY], and Mrs. Mary E. Spry of Norwich.

BACKUS - BACON:  In North Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], Jan. 4, by Rev. L.C. Queal, Mr. D.R. Backus, of Plymouth [Chenango Co., NY], to Miss Sylvia E. Bacon, of North Norwich.

SHERWOOD - BENNETT:  On the 30th ult. by Rev. L. Sperry, Mr. G.G. Sherwood, to Miss Phebe L. Bennett, all of Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY].

SHERMAN -TINCKER:  In New Berlin [Chenango Co., NY], Dec. 29, by Rev. F.M. Williams, Mr. Wm. H. Sherman of Norwich [Chenango Co., NY] and Miss Clara O. Tinker, of New Berlin.

Died:  RHODES:  In Hamilton [Madison Co., NY], on the 22d ult. Mrs. Frances [Rhodes], wife of J.P. Rhodes, formerly of this village [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY], and daughter of the late Dr. D.M. Wakeley, of North Norwich.

Died:  RUTHFORD:  In Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], on the 23d ult. Mrs. Mary Ana [Ruthford], wife of Robert Ruthford, aged 24 years.

SHATTUCK:  In Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], on the 30th ult., Mrs. Harriet A. [Shattuck], wife of David Shattuck, aged 30 years.

GALE:  In McDonough [Chenango Co., NY], 25th ult., Mr. Alpheus Gale, aged 68? years 7 months and 20 days.

BLOOM:  In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], on 3d inst. Mary [Bloom], wife of Mr. Henry Bloom, aged 32 years.

WHITELY:  In Triangle [Broome Co., NY] on the 15th ult. Mr. Gurdon Whitely, formerly of Preston [Chenango Co., NY], aged 74.

REXFORD:  In Smyrna [Chenango Co., NY], Dec. 27, Mr. Sidney D. Rexford, aged 25 years.

Chenango Union, Norwich, NY, January 18, 1865

Married:  At the home of the bride, Jan. 11th, by Rev. J.H. Barnard, Mr. Francis Chapel, of  Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], to Miss Emily E. Law, of Pitcher, Chenango Co., N.Y.

Married:  In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], Jan. 9, by Rev. J.C. Ransom, Mr. Sanford A. Cooke of Copake [Columbia Co., NY], to Miss Libbey Steadman, of Norwich [Chenango Co., NY].

Married:  In South New Berlin [Chenango Co., NY], Dec. 7th, by Rev. J.H. Chamberlain, Mr. Edward Stenson of Butternuts [Otsego Co., NY] to Miss Josephine Bates of the same place.

Married:  Also, by the same, Jan. 2d, Mr. Wilbur Davis, of Morris [Otsego co., NY], to Miss Sarah Sheldon of Guilford [Chenango Co., NY].

Married:  Also, by the same, Jan. 11th, Mr. Volney Mathewson of New Berlin [Chenango Co., NY] to Miss Diana l. Goodrich, of Sherburne [Chenango Co., NY].

Married:  In Greene [Chenango Co., NY], Jan. 4th, by Rev. M.S. Wells, Mr. Ethan C. Race to Miss Martha A. Shoales, all of Greene.

Married:  In Greene [Chenango Co., NY], Jan. 4th, by Rev. H. Garlick, Mr. Dewit Watrous of Colesville [Broome Co., NY] to Miss Adelia A. Chappell, of Greene.

Married:  In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY] Jan. 8th, by Rev. F.B. Peck, Mr. George Vandyke of Chenango Forks [Broome Co., NY] to Miss Eliza Byers, of Smithville Flatts [Chenango Co., NY].

Married:  In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], Dec. 20th, by Rev. D.H. Macurdy, Maj. J.D. Lownsberry, of the Western U.S.A. to Mrs. Mary E. Davidson, of Oxford.

Married:  In Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY], Dec. 28th, by Rev. A.N. Benedict, Rev. Charles B. Johnson, Pastor elect of the Baptist Church in Westmoreland, to Miss Olive A. Scott of Bainbridge.

Died:  In Camp Douglas, Chicago, Ill. Dec. 28th, of small pox, Mr. Joseph M.J. Hadlock, son of Hosea Hadlock, of this town [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY], aged 33 years, a member of the 17th Reg. N.Y.S. Vols.

Died:  In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], Jan. 11th, of pneumonia, Mrs. S. Diana Russell, wife of Rev. B. A. Russell, aged 53 years.

Died:  In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], Jan. 9th, Minnie A. [Washburn], youngest child of William H. and Almina Washburn, age 2 years and 8 months.

Died:  In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], Jan. 8th, Miss C.F. Seeley, daughter of F.T. and A.C. Seeley.

Died:  In New Berlin [Chenango Co., NY], Dec. 25th, Anson E. [Angell], second son of Israel Angell, aged 17 years 3 months and 25 days.

Died:  In Greene [Chenango Co., NY], Jan. 10th, Mr. John Gross, Jr., aged 35 years.

Chenango Union, Norwich, NY, January 25, 1865

Married:  In Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], Jan. 18th, 1865, by Rev. Mr. Foster, Mr. Joseph E. Sage to Miss Adelia Isbell, all of New Berlin.

Married:  In McDonough [Chenango Co., NY], Jan. 17th, by Rev. E. Holroyd, Mr. David B. Daily, of Smithville [Chenango Co., NY] to Miss Amelia L.  Martin, of McDonough.

Married:  In Smyrna [Chenango Co., NY], Jan. 5th, by Rev. T.P. Halstead, Mr. John W. Ingalls of Groton [Tompkins Co., NY], to Miss Mary A. Wilcox of Smyrna.

Married:  In Coventry [Chenango Co., NY], Jan. 15th, by Rev. L. Bowdish, Rev. A. S. Yale, Pastor of the Congregational Church at Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY] to Miss Lula F. Lyon of Elmira [Chemung Co., NY].

Married:  In Sherburne [Chenango Co., NY], Dec. 31st, by Rev. H. Jones, Mr. Charles H. Colegrove of Clinton [Dutchess Co., NY] to Miss Libbie E. Jones, daughter of the officiating clergyman.

Married:  In Utica [Oneida Co., NY], Jan. 2d, by Rev. D.G. Corey, Mr. Charles Parker of Sherburne [Chenango Co., NY] to Miss Julia H. Kinney of Clark's Mills [Oneida Co., NY].

Died:  In this village [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY], Jan. 21st, 1865, Nathan Parker [Chamberlin], son of P.V. Chamberlin, aged 1 year and 3 months.

Died:  At the residence of her brother, in Skaneateles [Onondaga Co., NY], on Sunday, Jan. 22d, Miss Hattie M. Gorton, formerly of this village [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY], aged 21 years.

Died:  In Truxton, Cortland co. [NY], Jan. 18th, of a lingering cancerous affection, Mrs. Charlotte Purdy, wife of Alfred Purdy, Esq., and daughter of the late Dr. John Miller, in the 56th year of her age.

Died:  In Smyrna [Chenango Co., NY], Jan. 20th, Mr. John A. Parker, aged 90 years.

Died:  In Smyrna [Chenango Co., NY], Jan. 6th, Mr. Julius Kelsey, aged 61 years.

Died:  In Plymouth [Chenango Co., NY] Dec. 6th, of diptheria, H.W. Leslie [Rauger], aged 3 years and 16 days; also, Dec. 18th, of the same disease, M. Louisa [Rauger], aged 5 years, 1 month and 9 days, children of H.P. and A.E. Rauger.

Died:  In Smithville [Chenango Co., NY], Jan. 10th, Mrs. Nancy Morehouse, aged 76 years.

Died:  In Preston [Chenango Co., NY], Jan. 12th, Mr. James Picket, aged 34 years.

Died:  In Bridgewater, Oneida Co. [NY], Jan. 19th, Mr. William Greenman, brother of B.F. and A.C. Greenman, of this village [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY], aged 45 years.

Died:  At the Hospital, Murfreesboro, Tenn. of Typhoid fever, Mr. Ezra J. Rogers, of Greenwood, Mich, formerly of Plymouth [Chenango Co., NY], a member of Co. B, 3d Michigan Infantry, aged 29 years.

Died:  In the U.S. General Hospital, Annapolis, Md., Dec. 31st, of chronic diarrhea, David C. White of Co. L. 22d N.Y. Cavalry, aged 16 years and 10 months, son of David D. White of Pharsalia [Chenango Co., NY].

Died:  In Hospital, at Portsmouth, Va., Oct. 1st, 1864, of typhoid fever, after a brief illness of about seven days, Corporal Henry Moore of Co. L 20th N.Y. Cavalry, and son of Mrs. l. Sweetland of McDonough [Chenango Co., NY], aged 17 years.

The deceased was beloved at home and by his soldier comrades, and though only sixteen when enlisted, was soon promoted.  He rests, as we trust, in Jesus, having professed conversion a short time before engaging in the service of his country. all honor to the noble dead who have fallen in defense of our loved land, having laid themselves as sacrifices on its altar.  His remains were brought home and interred in the family burial ground and now lie by the side of his father, Andrew J. Moore.

How Soldiers are Buried

Chenango Union, Norwich, NY, January 25, 1865

A correspondent writing from the General Hospital at Fortress Monroe says:

When a soldier dies, his body is washed, enshrouded in a clean shirt and drawers, and with naked hands and feet is carried on a stretcher by the nurses to the dead-house and put in a plain red coffin.  The soldier's name, company and regiment are painted on the under side of the coffin lid, to identify the deceased in case of exhuming. At the hour appointed, the escort, drum corps, dead-cart, pall bearers and the Chaplain, all being assembled, the funeral begins by placing the encoffined dead in the cart, each one receiving the regular dead salute of a three-fold rapping of the drums and the shouldering and presenting of arms by the escort. We usually take five at a load all covered over with the glorious old flag they died to honor and defend.  All ready, with a slow step, graced with the solemn notes of the "Dead march," of fife and drum, we march to the graveyard, and with solemn silence consign them to the tomb.  We usually bury eight or ten at once, sometimes not more than five. When the last coffin is let down, all bareing their heads, the Chaplain reads an appropriate passage of Scripture, makes a few remakes, often speaking of the dying words and requests of the deceased, and closes with prayer, and the escort, having fired three volleys over their graves, we leave them. Retiring, the band plays a lively, patriotic air, and the solemn scene is all over., usually without a tear being shed, except when a relative is present.  The graveyard at Hampton, where all the soldiers who have died in Divisions 1, 2, and 4, of this general Hospital, now contains some 1,600 graves, is kept very neat and clean. A neat headboard, with the name, company and regiment of each soldier, and the date of his death marks the spot where his  mortal remains lie. A great many have been taken up this fall. They go away daily, but not half as fast as we put them there.  Such a graveyard presents a solemn sight.  Here lie the old, the young, the educated, the rich and the poor patriotic soldiers. A father recently exhumed the remains of his son, who left a fortune of $50,000, but who sacrificed his life for his country.

Vital Records, Oxford, NY, August 1864

 Oxford Times, August 3, 1864

Death of Mrs. Philip Bartle

Seldom are we called to record the departure of one whose whole life has been so consecrated to all acts and offices of love as Mrs. Bartle's.  Who can ever forget the loving words, the genial welcome of Aunt Betty and Uncle Philip?  With no child of her own to love, she has been the mother to many a sorrowing and bereaved one, and we rejoice that in her last days she found the tender care and ministering kindness of a daughter, and passed her time pleasantly, cheered by untiring watchfulness to the end.  Mrs. Bartle taught the first school in our town, and those who long ago were gray haired men and women remember their teacher.  For nearly seventy years, Mrs. Bartle shared life's joys and sorrows.  Now they sleep in the Cemetery with friends and neighbors around them, leaving to the world the best and brightest example of whatever ennobles and dignifies humanity.  "Let me die the death of the righteous, let my last end be like his."

Oxford Times, August 10, 1864

Death of Father Waldo

Rev. Daniel Waldo, died at his residence in Syracuse [Onondaga Co., NY], Saturday afternoon at half-past one o'clock, in the one hundred and second year of his age.  Few men have lived to attain his remarkable age, and fewer still to remain possessed of so great a degree of bodily strength, mental vigor and elasticity of spirit, as this good old man.  His eyesight had failed him for a year or two past, which has confined him more closely to the house.  four weeks ago Saturday, in feeling his way from one room to another, he mistook his way and fell a distance of three or four steps down.  Though no bones were broken, nor any outward injuries visible, from the time of that fall the good man has been gradually failing till life was extinct.

Oxford Times, August 17, 1864

Married:  In this village [Chenango Co., NY], on the 15th inst., by Rev. J.C. Ransom, Mr. George W. Miller to Miss Mary Isabella Ross, both of New Berlin [Chenango Co., NY].

Married:  In Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], on the 12th inst, by Rev. James McDermott, Mr. John Gallagher of Pennsylvania, to Miss Elizabeth Welch of Preston [Chenango Co., NY].

Married:  In Coventry [Chenango Co., NY], on the 4th ult. by Rev. E.H. Stoddard, Mr. S. Woodward Warren to Miss Sarah A. Stoddard, both of Coventry.

Died:  In Smithville [Chenango Co., NY], on the 10th inst., Mr. James M. Bunnell, of the 10th N.Y. Cavalry, aged 37 years.

Died:  In Greene [Chenango Co., NY], on the 6th inst., Laura Isabel [Rogers], daughter of Daniel and Mary K. Rogers, aged 7 yrs.

Died:  In East Greene [Chenango Co., NY], on the 3d inst., Mrs. Orrilla Japhet, wife of Andrew Japhet, aged 40 years.

Died:  In Greene [Chenango Co., NY], on the 6th inst., Elizabeth [Reynolds], widow of Thomas Reynolds, aged 72 years.

Died:  In Guilford [Chenango Co., NY], on the 3d inst., Mr. Nelson N. Green, aged 45 years.

Died:  In Smithville [Chenango Co., NY], on the 8th inst. Betsey Elizabeth [Moore], youngest daughter of Julius and Isabella Moore, aged 1 year and 8 months.

Oxford Times, August 24, 1864

Married:  In Earlville [Madison Co., NY], on the 8th inst. by Rev. R.D. Thorton, Mr. William H. Pratt to Miss Hannah Dorman, all of Guilford [Chenango Co., NY]

Died:  In Columbus [Chenango Co., NY] on the 1st inst., Jarvus Howard, of the 114th Reg., aged 20 years.

Died:  In Norwich [Chenango Co., NY] on the 9th inst. Mr. Coddington B. Brown, aged 60 years.

Died:  In Guilford [Chenango Co., NY], on the 14th inst. Everett E. Goodrich, son of Rev. J.T. and Margaret Goodrich, aged 20 years and 7 months.

Oxford Times, August 31, 1864

Married:  At the home of the bride, on the 1st inst., by Rev. W. Burnside, assisted by the Rev. C. D. Shepard, Mr. Charles E. Aylsworth, to Miss Sarah B [Jaquith], only daughter of Lorenzo Jaquith, Esq., both of Pittsfield N.Y. [Otsego Co., NY].  Some valuable presents were presented to the bride and groom by the friends of the bride.

Married:  At the Chenango House in this village [Oxford, Chenango Co., NY], on the 4th inst. by Rev. W. Burnside, Mr. Adelbert Barton, of Hartwick [Otsego Co., NY] to Miss Amelia Cooper of Coventry [Chenango Co., NY].

Married:  In this town [Oxford, Chenango Co., NY], on the 5th inst., by Rev. W. Burnside, Mr. Homer A. Hurlbut of Barker [Broome Co., NY] to Miss Lucy A., -?-, daughter of -?-son.

Married:  In Fenton [Broome Co., NY], at the residence of the bride's father, by Rev. L.D. Turner, Mr. Robert A. Green of Willett [Cortland Co., NY] to Miss Ella Ferris, of Fenton.

Married:  In Preston [Chenango Co., NY] on the 5th inst., by Rev. F.B. Peck, Mr. Frank J. Rogers of Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], to Miss Lois M. Miner of Preston.

Married:  In Marathon [Cortland Co., NY], on the 16th ult. by Rev. A. C. Bowdish, Mr. Alfred White of Marathon to Miss Ella J. Beadle of Smithville [Chenango Co., NY].

Married:  In German [Chenango Co., NY], on the 30th ult. by Rev. L.D. Turner, Mr. Wm. Hall to Miss Emma Banks both of German.

Married:  In German [Chenango Co., NY],  on the 2d? inst. by Rev. L.D. Turner, Mr. Wm. O. Adams to Miss Louisa Smith, both of German.

Married:  In Pitcher [Chenango Co., NY], on the 5th inst. by Rev. S.P. Way, Mr. Dexter L. Griswold of German to Miss Julie E. Bennett of Pitcher.

Died:  In Norwich [Chenango Co., NY] on the 7th int. Mr. Joab Burlingame, aged 70 years.

Died:  In Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], on the 9th inst. Lovina Clark, widow of the late Lot Clark, aged 87 years.

Died:  In Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], on the 9th inst. Mr. James W. Foote, aged 67 years.

Vital Records, Norwich, NY, December 1864

 Chenango Union, Norwich, NY, December 7, 1864

Married:  In Smyrna [Chenango Co., NY], Dec. 1st, 1864, by Rev. A.N. Benedict, Mr. Billings Wheeler, of Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], to Miss Mary [Hartwell], only daughter of Benjamin Hartwell Esq., of Smyrna.

Married:  At the Congregational Parsonage, in this village [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY], Nov. 24th, 1864, by Rev. S. Scoville, Mr. Charles H. Dimmick, to Miss Mary E. Pangburn, all of Norwich.

Married:  In this village [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY], Nov. 24th, by Rev. S. Scoville, Mr. Hobart L. Mosley, to Miss Helen D. Chase, both of Plymouth [Chenango Co., NY].

Married:  By the same, Nov. 25th, Mr. David G. Wycoff, to Miss Ursula O. Pell.

Married:  By the same, Nov. 27th, Mr. William McQueen, to Miss Alice Gertrude Barr, both of Norwich [Chenango Co., NY].

Married:  In Sherburne [Chenango Co., NY], Nov. 16th, by Rev. J.L. Burrows, Mr. Henry Wilson, of Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], to Miss Mary L. Lloyd, of Columbus [Chenango Co., NY].

Died:  In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], on Tuesday morning, Dec. 6th, 1864, Mr. William Van Wagenen, in the 63d year of his age.

Died:  In Plymouth [Chenango Co., NY], Nov. 23d, 1864, Lydia [Colwell], relict of the late Robert Colwell, in the 88th year of her age.

Died:  In Greene [Chenango Co., NY], Nov. 23d, Mr. John M. Ten Broeck, aged 70 years.

Died:  In Greene [Chenango Co., NY], Nov. 29th, Mr. Delos H. Robinson, aged 43 years, 5 months and 25 days.

Died:  In Greene [Chenango Co., NY] Nov. 28th, Miss Hannah Whitmarsh, aged 57 years.

Died:  In Smithville [Chenango Co., NY], Nov. 27th, Mr. Vinson Loomis, aged 65 years.

Died:  Killed, in front of Petersburg, while on picket duty, Mr. William L. Ames, of Co. F, 7th Heavy Artillery, from Plymouth, in this county [Chenango Co., NY], aged about 25 years.

Died:  In North Pitcher [Chenango Co., NY], Dec. 3d, of diptheria, Sarah [Copeland], daughter of Henry and Mary Ann Copeland, in the 11th year of her age.  In the vigor of youth and health, she was cut down like an autumn flower in a few short days.  Pure, amiable and intelligent, she was the pride of her parents and associates, and was highly esteemed by her class mates in the Sabbath School, to which she belonged.  She endured her excruciating illness with exemplary fortitude and patience and passed as we trust from earth to the blessed in heaven.  J.C.B.

Died:  In Preston [Chenango Co., NY], Nov. 11th, 1864, J. Luverne [Noyes], only child of James J. and Eunice Noyes, aged 3 years, 10 months and 7 days.  Oh, say where rests your darling? / Not in his cradle bed, / Not in the lonely grave yard, / With the cold and mold'ring dead; / But in a heavenly mansion, / Upon his Savior's breast, / With his sister's arms about him, / He takes his sainted rest.

Died:  At the residence of her father, near Mt. Upton [Chenango Co., NY], Nov. 18th, 1864, of diptheria, Nancy A. [Peck], aged 21 years, 5 months and 2 days.  By this sad bereavement many hearts are left lonely and desolate, but they have the consolation of knowing that their loved and lost one "sleeps in Jesus."  The death chamber was a scene of triumph over the last enemy, which no one who witnessed it can ever forget, "Weep not for me.  I'm only going home a little while before you, and I'll watch over you, and come and meet you when you are called," she said to her weeping mother; and to all who approached her, words of exhortation or of praise to her Redeemer.

You walked by my side, dear mother, / Close down by death's cold shore, / But you could not see the white-robed band / That was waiting to waft me o'er.

And you snag for me, my sister, / The songs I loved to hear; / But you could not hear the heavenly notes / That were wafted to my ear.

I join in those songs, my loved ones, / For I know no sickness now, / And to Him I loved - my Savior - / With the angels bright I bow.

Would ye call me back, oh loved ones, / To the toil and pain and strife, / That are so often mingled / On the battle field of life?

Nay, rather come and join me; / I'll watch you till  you come, / And then I'll come and lead you / To my beauteous heavenly home.

Death of Lieut. Norman Lewis

We announced, three weeks since, that Lieut. Norman Lewis, formerly of this town [Morrisville, Madison Co., NY], had his leg shot off in the action at Cedar Creek, Va., on the 19th ult.  His friends here subsequently received letters from him, stating that he was in the hospital At Martinsburgh, was doing well, and should probably be able to return home in a few days.  Nothing further, however, was heard from him until last Saturday, when information was received by Mr. Hiram Lewis here that a body was at Canastota directed to his care.  On proceeding to that place it was ascertained that the body was the remains of Lieut. Lewis, which had been sent from Martinsburg.  Beyond this nothing is known of the circumstances of his death.  The corpse was brought to this village and on Monday afternoon the funeral took place from the residence of his brother (Romulus Lewis), the services being conducted by Rev. J.R. Lewis, Pastor of the Congregational Chruch.

Lieut. Lewis was the son of the late Mr. John Lewis, of this town, and a few years since he went to Norwich [Chenango Co. NY], where he afterwards resided.  On the organization of the 114th Regiment, he enlisted into one of the Chenango companies, and was afterward commissioned as Lieutenant.  He was with the regiment thro' all its campaigns in Louisiana, and also in Northern Virginia, until the time of receiving his fatal wound.  Lieut. Lewis was 31 years of age, and unmarried.  He was a brave soldier and a good citizen, highly esteemed by his relatives and acquaintances, and his untimely fall is sincerely lamented by our whole community.  Morrisville Observer

Chenango Union, Norwich, NY, December 14, 1864

Married:  In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], Nov. 29, 1864, by Rev. J.C. Ransom, Mr. Milton Wetherby, of Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], to Miss Mary E. Hayes, of Preston [Chenango Co., NY].

Married:  In Smithville [Chenango Co., NY], Nov. 23d, by Rev. L.E. Spafford, Mr. Arvine S. Lewis of Oxford [Chenango Co., NY] to Miss Sarah D. Loomis, of Smithville.

Married:  In Sherburne [Chenango Co., NY], Nov. 30th, by Rev. E. Curtiss, Mr. Adelbert M. Grery, of Eaton [Madison Co., NY] to Miss Helen M. Lanckton, of Otselic [Chenango co., NY].

Died:  In this village [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY], Dec. 8th, 1864, Jane C.D. [Newton], wife of Isaac S. Newton, Esq., aged 35 years.

Died:  In this village [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY], DE. 12th, Betsey [Hubbell], wife of Ira Hubbell, aged 65 years.

Died:  In this village [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY], Dec. 9th, Charles Elmer [Barber], son of Charles Barber, aged 5 years and 6 months.

Died:  In North Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], Dec. 6th, Mr. James Benedict, aged 84 years.

Died:  In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], Nov. 26th, Mary B. [Brown], wife of the late David Brown, aged 59 years.

Died:  In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], Nov. 29th, George H. [Sintell], son of Henry and Martha Sintell, aged 8 years.

Died:  In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], Nov. 12th, of diptheria, Flora [Walker], daughter of Willard and Mary Walker, aged 5 years, 5 months and 15 days.

Died:  In Guilford [Chenango Co., NY], Nov. 25th, Jane Elizabeth [Humphrey], only daughter of Lewis and Elizabeth Humphrey, aged 1 year, 3 months and 12 days.

Died: In Greene [Chenango Co., NY], Dec. 5th, Mr. De Witt C. Northrup, aged 24 years.

Died:  In Jarvis Hospital, Baltimore, Nov. 26th, from wounds received in battle, Oct. 19th at Cedar Creek, Va., Mr. Wilbur F. Youngs, of Co. A, 114th Regt. N.Y.S.V., late of Oxford [Chenango Co., NY] aged 26 years.

Died:  In Quincy, ill., Nov. 29th, 1864, Doct. N.B. Mead, of Smyrna, Chenango Co., N.Y., aged 74 years.  Doct. M. has for more than a half century been a resident of Smyrna, and during that period occupied a high rank among the physicians of the County.  He has always been a prominent and influential citizen, and for one term was a member of our State Legislature.  He was a man of rare excellencies of character, energetic and persevering in his business habits, kind and generous in his social relations.  Long will his memory live in the hearts of those who knew him. A large circle of friends, who knew and honored his worth will mourn the loss of so exemplary a man and deeply will his brethren of the "mystic tie" lament the loss of so worthy a brother.

Died:  An old and respected citizen, Mr. Wm. Van Wagenen, son of the late Gerret H. Van Wagenen, formerly of New York, died at his residence in this village [Oxford, Chenango Co., NY], on Tuesday morning last. Mr. Van Wagenen, was an old and much esteemed citizen of unassuming manners and retiring habits, unambitious of distinction, was at the time of his demise one of the Trustees of the Oxford Academy, having the general reputation of being an "Honest man, the noblest work of God!"  Oxford Democrat

Death of a Soldier of the 114th

Alfred A. Morse, son of Ellis Morse, of Eaton [Madison Co., NY], who enlisted as a private in the one Hundred and Fourteenth New York Volunteers, had his leg shattered below the knee by a bullet during Early's attack upon Sheridan's army, on the morning of October 19th.  The limb was amputated above the knee, and some time afterward, on being raised up to a standing position for some purpose, the wound commenced bleeding, and his death ensued on Tuesday last.  Mr. Morse was a young man of fine promise and excellent character, and was led to enlist solely through the promptings of pure patriotism.  He was a brother of H.B. Morse, of the same regiment, and a member of the class of '65 of Hamilton college.

Chenango Union, Norwich, NY, December 21, 1864

Married:  In South Otselic [Chenango Co., NY], Nov. 4th, 1864, by E.T. Webb, Esq., Mr. Luke Miner, of Otselic to Delight Frink, of Pharsalia [Chenango Co., NY].

Married:  In Greene [Chenango Co., NY], by Rev. A. Parker, Mr. Lorenzo Hayes, to Miss Lucy Beadle, all of Greene.

Died:  In this town [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY], Dec. 14th, Mrs. Sally Leach, wife of the late Jonas Leach, aged 81 years.

Died:  In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], Dec. 8th, 1864, Mr. William L. Tuttle, aged 62 years.

Died:  In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], Nov. 25th, of consumption, Mrs. Sophia Kinney, wife of Samuel W. Kinney, and daughter of Dea. John Symonds, aged 44 years.

Died:  In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], Nov. 26th of diptheria, George H. [Hallett], son of Devillo and Maria Hallett, aged 2 years.

Died:  In Sidney, Del Co. [NY], Nov. 30th, Mr. Autram Mills, an early settler of the town of Guilford [Chenango Co., NY] in this County, in the 87th year of his age.

Died:  At Ward B, Hospital, Winchester, Va., Oct. 30th, of wounds received in battle at Cedar Creek, Oct. 19th, Mr. Robert Emmett Gritman, son of Hiram and Lydia D. Gritman, of Columbus [Chenango Co., NY], a member of Co. F, 114th Reg. N.Y.S.V., aged 24 years.

Died:  At Winchester, Va., of wounds received at the battle of Cedar Creek, Mr. Rial Thompson, a member of the 114th Reg. N.Y.S.V., and son of Rial and Olive Thompson of Preston [Chenango Co., NY], aged 26 years.

Died:  Killed by guerrillas, while on picket duty, near Petersburg, Va., Dec. 2d, Mr. Benjamin Haxton, of the 10th N.Y. Cavalry, aged 29 years.

Died:  William L. Tuttle, of this village [Oxford, Chenango Co., NY], while engaged about his business at the Hoe Factory, on Thursday last (Dec. 8th) was struck with palsy of which he died before evening of that day.  Mr. Tuttle was an industrious and exemplary citizen, and leaves a family, to which his loss seems almost irreparable.  Oxford Democrat

Chenango Union, Norwich, NY, December 28, 1864

Married:  In this village [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY], Dec. 15th, 1864, by Rev. S Scoville, Mr. John Bliven, to Miss Mary Hammond, all of Norwich.

Married:  In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], Dec. 21st, by Rev. E.H. Payson, Mr. Charles L. Turner, of Preston [Chenango Co., NY], to Miss Julia Alice Bennett, daughter of James C. Bennett, Esq., of the former place.

Married:  In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], Dec. 21st, by Rev. J.C. Ransom, James H. Crosby, Esq., of Preston [Chenango Co., NY] to Miss Adelia Rogers, of Guilford [Chenango Co., NY].

Married:  In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], Dec. 11th, by Rev. L. Spafford, Mr. A.D. Root to Miss R.E. Ingraham all of Oxford.

Married:  In Guilford [Chenango Co., NY], Dec. 18th, by Rev. W. G. Queal, Mr. Ray Isbell of Guilford to Miss Mary A. Bradley, of Morris [Otsego Co., NY].

Married:  In Waterville [Oneida Co., NY], Dec. 14th, by Rev. L.W. Hayburst, Mr. M.M. Joslyn of New Berlin [Chenango Co., NY] to Miss Clara J. Terry.

Married:  In Coventry [Chenango Co., NY], Dec. 4th, by Rev. J.P. Turnbul, Mr. Addison King, of Sandford, to Miss Sylva Jane Andrews, of Coventry.

Died:  In this town [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY], Dec. 23d, of chronic diarrhea, Francis E. Phetteplace, a member of the 22d N.Y. Cavalry, and son of David Phetteplace, of this town.  He was wounded in battle, taken prisoner by the rebels, confined in Richmond, and afterwards paroled. His father being notified of his serious illness, proceeded to Annapolis, where he was, and returned with him to his home.

Died:  In this village [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY], Dec. 22d, suddenly, Mrs. Mary Ann [Ruthford], wife of Robert Ruthford, aged 24 years.

Died:  In Plymouth [Chenango Co., NY], Dec. 15th, Ellsworth J. [Crandall], son of Elisha Crandall, aged 3 years and 2 months.

Died:  Near Brushell, Ill. Nov. 15th, Mary C. [Green], wife of W.H. Green, formerly of this County [Chenango co., NY].

Died:  At Baton Rouge Hospital La., Nov. 15th, Mr. Nehemiah Wheeler, Jr., of Co. A 11th N.Y. Cavalry, aged 30 years, 5 months and 16 days, late of Oxford [Chenango Co., NY]

Died:  In Buffalo, [Erie Co., NY], Nov. 8th, of typhoid fever, Jessie Percival, [Clarke], youngest daughter of Rev. Ethan Ray and Mary E Clarke, aged 15 years.

The Late Doct. Mead, of Smyrna

We find in the Quincy (Illinois)  Herald, of Nov. 30th, which has just come to hand, the following notice of the late Doct. Mead, of Smyrna, who died at Quincy, while on a visit to his son:

Death of Dr. N.B. Mead:  Dr. N.B. Mead (father of Chas. W. Mead), died in this city yesterday.  The funeral takes place this morning at 10 o'clock.  We had but a slight acquaintance with Mr. Mead, but sufficient to satisfy us that he was a man of decided character.  He came to this city some two years since where he has made hosts of warm, devoted friends. He was a man of mark in many respects.  He had no enemies, all with whom he became acquainted were his friends.  His intercourse with the people of this city was brief, but it was pleasant and profitable to both. All who had made his acquaintance will regret the news of his death.  He was emphatically a man amongst men.  Honor to his memory and peace to his ashes.

Soldier's Letter, Civil War, July 1863

 Oxford Times, July 8, 1863

Chickasaw Bayou, June 11th 1863

Editor of the Times:  It is reported that Gen. Bragg has left his position in front of Rosecranz and is marching to attack Gen. Grant in the rear, but we will be read for them, so let them come.  Fourteen Steamboats have passed here today loaded with troops from the North, they are landed at Haine's Bluff and the troops that are already there are throwing up breastworks from the Yazoo to the Black River.  there are several cannon laying on the bank here that were taken from the Rebels since our Army crossed the River below Vicksburg. The most of them are 12 pound Howitzers. There is one 20 pound Parrott gun (the lady Bowen), they are all ready for use, but our men have plenty of them in the field and do not want these there.

12th:  I went down to Young's Point today on business for the Captain, there is nothing going on at that place.  I had a talk with one of our paroled men,. He was taken prisoner just back of the convalescent camp below Young's Point.  He said the rebels came in sight of the Camp and saw so many tents pitched that they thought we had a large force there and they retreated back to Richmond without firing a shot, and there they paroled their prisoners.  This fellow sold his canteen to a Reb for $2.00 in silver and a pocket inkstand for one dollar in Greenback, and a few minutes after that, they were all searched and their canteens and pocket knives were taken from them.  He said it would be a great place for a sutler among the rebs. They had plenty of green backs and Confederate Script.

14th:  I went out to Gen Grant's headquarters on business for the Capt., met Parsons and one of our boys. They were well, and we took a drink to get the dust out of our throats.  The Rebs have got a Mortar planted inside of their fortifications and shell our men with it.  They have hurt no one yet.  As I was going out, I met a deserter from the Rebels at Vicksburg.  He says they have been living on half rations ever since Grant got them surrounded night before last. Over 100 deserters came to our lines from Vicksburg.

15th:  There is no later news from the front and nothing from Bragg.  It rained some this forenoon.  Yesterday I was talking with an Officer in one of the Negro Regts. that was in the fight at Milliken's Bend.  He said that when the Rebs come in there they cried "and quarter to the d....d Black Abolition sons,"  and that they killed every wounded negro they came to, and when the negroes got them turned, they were like tigers (the Nigs).  They charged on the Rebs taking no prisoners but killing every one they came to, and the Officers could not stop them.  I say bully for the Nigs.  Them's my sentiments.  I had just as like have a negro put up for a target for a Reb as to see a white man there, and a little more so.  I was talking with an Engineer on this boat the other day and I got him almost angry.  He said he did not think it was right for a negro to be a soldier.  I told him that if some of these folks that didn't want a negro to fight would go and fight for themselves, they might change their opinion on the negro soldier question.  I had him right where Kelsey had the Hun, and he has not said a word about negro soldiers since, in my hearing at least, he was very mad at the time and talked pretty plain, but he could not scare me.

21st:  I was out to the front on the 17th. The Rebs have got excellent range on Gen. Logan's headquarters with their mortar.  Yesterday and day before, the Rebs were firing their mortar every 15 minutes, and they struck all around the Gens quarters. there was over 20 holes where the 10 inch shells had struck within 10 rods of the Gen's tent.  On Friday one struck right in Major Stoibrand's tent.  He is chief of Artillery of Logan's Division and his tent is about two rods from Logan's, and blew the major's papers and tent all over.  The major was standing in the tent door and he saw the shell coming and got out of the way, and yesterday he put up a new one and before he got the -?- on there was a piece of shell about 6 lbs weight went right through the top of the tent.  We can see the smoke when the Rebs fire their mortar and then have a chance to watch for the shell which we can see over 1/2 mile off and can have a chance to get up and dust which they all do without orders.  One struck near the table that the Orderlies had just commenced eating dinner on, someone told them the shell was coming and they vacated immediately and the shell struck and threw so much dirt in their dinner that they had to throw it away. Several shells struck right there yesterday while I was there and a piece of one of them hit Parson's horse on the chin and would have hit P. if he had not backed up his horse just as he did. Another one went through a shed and buried itself within two feet of a horse and burst, but did not hit the horse.  It scared him so he died.

It is just about 1300 yards by measurement from the Rebel mortar to Gen Loga's quarters and the rebels have to fire their shells very straight in the air to have it fall at so short a distance, and the shells bury themselves so deep in the ground that what few pieces do come out when it bursts go up in the air. We can look out for them when they fall.  I have not heard of a single one being killed yet by their mortar shells.  Shells from a small Howitzer are more dangerous for you can't see them.  Our men yesterday planted one gun within 200 yards of the Rebel mortar and threw canister and shells at them, but could not silence it.  It was down in a hollow where a shell or canister can't get to them.  The reason the rebs direct all the fire of their mortars at Gen. Logan is because he has got two 9-inch guns within 5 rods of his tent and they annoy the rebels a little.  Our men are mining on the outside of the rebel fortifications and have dug a trench for the sharpshooters and planted a gun there.  They say it is 30-feet across the breastworks there. They had dug in 15 or 20 feet yesterday. The rebels can't shoot the men that are at work for we have got sharpshooters only a few rods back that pick them off if they show themselves, and have got a battery within 50 yards of them. Our men got a Vicksburg paper of the 18th the other day.  It was printed on the blank side of wall paper.  They spoke of one of the Yankee shells coming into their office and bursting in the basement and not doing much damage. They think that they will get help from the outside in a few days.   W.

Vital Records, Oxford, NY, July 1864

 Oxford Times, July 6, 1864

Married:  In this village [Oxford, Chenango Co., NY], on the 3d inst., by the Rev. F.H. Payson, Mr. Daniel Fisher to Preston [Chenango Co., NY] to Miss Augusta DeForest of Guilford [Chenango Co., NY].

Married:  In Greene [Chenango Co., NY], on the 22d ult. by Rev. F. Rogers, Mr. Charles W. Knickerbocker of Smithville [Chenango Co., NY], to Miss Mary E. Beach of Greene.

Married:  In Sherburne [Chenango Co., NY], on the 16th ult., Mr. Frederick Jones to Mrs. Mary A. Wiliamson?

Married:  In Plymouth [Chenango Co., NY], June 19th, by Rev. Mr. Cochrane, Mr. Foster? Sayles to Miss Mary Monroe, all of Plymouth.

Died:  In Brashear City, La, Feb. 16th, Mr. Henry Monroe of Co. B 114th N.Y.S.V., aged 23 years.  son of D.R. Rogers of German [Chenango Co., NY].

Oxford Times, July 13, 1864

Died:  At the residence of Mrs. Owen Redmond, in Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], on the 9th inst. of diptheria, Mary [Schaurte], only child of Col. Frederick and Mary Schaurte, aged 3 years and 8 months.  This will be grievous tidings to greet the doting father in his far off post of duty, and those at home will miss the little dancing, prattling fairy, whole presence was as welcome as the birds and flowers in spring, yet-- "I call it not blighted, I deem them not dead, / Who thus pass away in their bloom; / For they rest in their beauty where tears are not shed / O'er the darkness, and blight of the tomb."

Died:  In this village [Oxford, Chenango Co., NY], on 9th inst., of diptheria, Henry [Grobert], aged two years, only son of Andrew Grobert, of Co. A, 114th N.Y.V.  Another mother called to lay her child in the grave, while the soldier father is far away.  God comfort both in their sorrow.

Died:  In Liberty Township, Choton Co. Iowa, on 4th May last, of typhoid fever, Mr. George Manwaring, formerly of Chenango Co., N.Y. aged 53 yrs.  His sickness which was painful and protracted, was one with fortitude and Christian resignation.  He was much respected in the community where he resided, and will be mourned by a large circle of friends and acquaintance.  Wheatland, Iowa, Times

Death of Lieut. Col. T.L. England

This gallant officer of the 89th regiment, formerly a citizen of Delhi [Delaware Co., NY] and who was promoted from the rank of captain to that of lieutenant colonel fell in the front at the assault upon Petersburg on June 18th, being instantly killed by a ball through the head.  His body was embalmed and forwarded to his friends in Delhi. The funeral ceremonies were conducted with military honors, the fire department acting as an escort.

Oxford Times, July 20, 1864

Married:  In Greene [Chenango Co., NY], on the 9th inst., by Warren Gray, esq., Mr. D. S. H. Buck to Miss Elida Benedict, all of Greene.

Died:  In Greene [Chenango Co., NY], on the 6th inst. Mrs. Betsey Peck, aged 85 years.

Died:  In Sherburne [Chenango Co., NY], on the 13th inst. Amie M. [Brooks], wife of William A. Brooks, aged 32 years.

Died:  Killed by sun stroke, near Richmond, Mr. Bradley N. Moore, of Co. L. 22d Cav., formerly employed in the office of the Chenango Telegraph.

Oxford Times, July 27, 1864

Died:  In Sherburne [Chenango Co., NY], on the 13th inst. Amie M. [Brooks], wife of Wm. Brooks, aged 32 years.

Died:  At the Regimental Hospital, Manning's Plantation, La. June 22d, Niles E. Edwards of Co G. 11th N.Y. Cavalry, son of Wm. Edwards of Preston [Chenango Co., NY].