Memorial Record - The Deceased Soldiers of Norwich
Chenango Union, Norwich, NY, May 1, 1872
We commence today the publication of deceased soldiers of Norwich, and shall continue the list from time to time, till complete, as the facts are published in accordance with the request made by Dr. Beecher, through the columns of the Union, two weeks since. If any should fail to discover the names of their friends or others, they will readily understand the reason of their omission.
We head the "Roll of Honor," with the name of the gallant Commander of the 114th Regiment New York Volunteers, condensing the subjoined sketch, with others which follow in the main from Dr. Beecher's Record to which we refer for full particulars.
Elisha Brown Smith, the third child and elder son of Judge Elisha and Adoshia Smith, was born in Norwich [Chenango Co. NY], February 17th, 1817. His early history was not unlike that of other boys who are obliged to make their way in life under adverse circumstances. While yet quite young, various offices of trust were conferred upon him. In 1844 he was appointed Under Sheriff of the county, which office he retained about three years. In 1856 he was elected a Delegate to the Convention to amend the constitution of the State, and in 1847 was candidate on the Democratic ticket for the office of Canal Commissioner. In 1848 he was a Delegate to the National Convention held at Baltimore, which resulted in the nomination to the Presidency of Lewis Cass. In 1852 he was the Democratic candidate for congress in the District of which Chenango formed a part, and came within a few votes of an election. In the spring of 1852, he was commissioned Postmaster of Norwich, which position he held for a year and a half. In September 1840, he was married to Lucinda P., daughter of the late Whitman Willcox, Esq., of Norwich.
At the first meeting of the War Committee, held in Norwich in July 1862, he was unanimously recommended as Commandant of the Regiment to be raised in the 23d Senatorial District, under the call of the President for 300,000 more men. In less than four weeks thereafter, a regiment one thousand and forty strong was in readiness for the seat of war. On the 6th of September it took its departure.
From Baltimore, its first destination, the Regiment, as a part of the Army of Gen. Banks, after a month's detention at Fortress Monroe, was transferred to New Orleans. Subsequently, and for a considerable length of time, the Colonel, as acting Brigadier, was placed in Command of all the Union troops menacing the enemy at Brasher City. In his anxiety to be with his Regiment, from which he had been separated by illness after the battle of Bisland, fought April 12th, 1863, against the advice of his surgeon, he hastened to join it, then in the Siege of Port Hudson, only a few days before the fatal 14th of June. The result of that terrible day has passed into history, and the names and deeds of those who participated in that fearful struggle have become matters of record. Of all that besieging army, there were none truer, braver, nobler, more patriotic, that day, than Colonel Elisha B. Smith. Temporarily in command of Weitzel's daring old Brigade, he fell at its head mortally wounded, leading in the charge. He was carried upon a litter to the Brigade hospital, in the woods, where with others he received all the attention it was possible to bestow.
During the few days that intervened previous to his death, Col. Smith, well aware of his condition, with intellect unclouded, exhibited his characteristic cheerfulness and resignation. A little past the hour of midnight, on the morning of the 19th, in the solemn wood, surrounded by his soldiers and a few personal friends, his spirit took its flight, and returned to God who gave it. His exit was calm and trustful, his end was peace.
On the 30th of June, Lieut. E.P. Pellet, in charge of all that remained of the Colonel, left New Orleans for his Northern home, on the steamer Cahawba. On Friday evening, the 10th of July, the remains, amid the overshadowing grief and gloom of our people and of the entire valley, reached Norwich. On Sunday following, the funeral was attended by an immense concourse of citizens, Rev Samuel Scoville officiating, assisted by the Rev. A.N. Benedict. In accordance with the beautiful and touching ceremonies of the Masonic Ritual, the body was committed to earth in the cemetery of his own native village, in the burial place of his fathers.
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Lieutenant Edward Elias Breed, the eldest son of William R. Breed and Marcia C. Packer, was born in Norwich [Chenango Co. NY], February 11, 1842. His paternal grandparents were Deacon Elias Breed and Elizabeth Randall, and his maternal, Captain James Packer and Mary Billings, all of whom were early settlers in Chenango County from New England. Mrs. Breed's father, Thomas Randall, was a Quartermaster in the War of the Revolution.
Surrounded by the influences of a good home, in which loyalty and patriotism were native products, he spent his early life upon a farm, enjoying the advantages of the common school, to which were added more thorough instruction in both Norwich and Oxford Academies.
On the 6th of August 1862, Lieut. Breed enlisted at Oxford [Chenango Co. NY], as a private in Company A, 114th Regiment. A mother's fondness for her first born, as natural as it was honorable, for a time restrained his patriotic purpose, but at last yielded assent to the oft repeated assertion "Some must go, and why not I as well as others."
In August 1863, he was advanced to a Second lieutenancy, transferred to Co. H, of which he became first Lieutenant in October following, and acted as Captain until his death. Lieutenant Breed was in action as Fort Bisland, Port Hudson, and shared the dangers and trials of the disastrous Red River Campaign. At the terrible battle of Winchester, (Opequan, Va.) September 19th, 1864, where "The One Hundred and Fourteenth Regiment offered up its glorious sacrifice of one hundred and eighty-eight men," after four color bearers had fallen, Lieut. Breed seized the prostrate flag, waving it in the face of the foe, and rallying his men, met the fatal bullet that sealed his life. To the Surgeon who came to his relief, he said "Take the ball out, that I may go and fight them again." He lived but a few hours, but long enough for him to testify, even with his latest breath, his undying devotion to his country.
Thoughtful friends, true to the ashes of this youthful patriot, as he had been to the flag of the Union, laid to rest in the family burial ground in his native town of Norwich, the casket of that young and heroic spirit, rescued from the wreck of battle.
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