Oneonta Herald, Oneonta, NY, September 4, 1861
Civil War Letter - Ira J. Emmons
Meridian Hill (Washington) Aug. 23, '61
Although you may have heard from the Oneonta [Otsego Co. NY] boys ere this, I will now fulfill my promise to you and give you as good a description of our journey and present situation as I can.
We arrived at Schoharie [NY] at three A.M., having stopped on our way for supper at Grant's. That evening the company were presented with a flag from the ladies of Schoharie, lawyer Krum, speaker. It was accepted with an elegant speech by Chs. Kromer, of Schoharie, a member of our company, after which Colonel Mix and Hamilton Brown made short but patriotic speeches and the meeting dismissed. The next morning, we started, all in good spirits, and arrived at Albany [NY] at three P.M. having rode all the way through a hard rain.
The Officers having some difficulty in filling the ranks to the required number (seventy-nine) which they expected to do as soon as they arrived, were obliged to stay at Albany until Monday, though the delay was occasioned the last two days by deserters. On that day we were marched to the Arsenal and kept there until the required number were had. We were then sworn in and prepared to start for New York.
During our stay we were examined by the examining physician who pronounced it to be the best company he had examined. We arrived at N. York at six A.M. and marched to the Barracks, a pretty place for New York to keep to receive a soldier, even of the lowest rank. It is a building put up very loose, shed like, the conveniences for sleeping being small straw beds which at the time of our arrival were filled with lice and bedbugs. Their eatables (aside from the bread, which was Baker's) were such as you would not allow your dog to eat - stale boiled meat and coffee, as they called it, but it was worse than a dose of medicine, both in taste and smell. Lucky was the man who had money! Those that slept the first night gained a furlough and went to the hotels. The second night we had our blankets and slept on the tables, in order to be on hand in the morning for an early start, making two day's stay at the Barracks. We were measured at New York for our clothes and received our knapsacks, blankets, two flannel shirts, two pair drawers, and two pair socks, each. We left New York on the seven o'clock train, changing cars but once at Philadelphia. We were greeted at every place we passed through, by the waving of flags and handkerchiefs.
While crossing the Susquehanna at Haverdegrass, our company gave three hearty cheers for the noble river. We had the pleasure of crossing the bridges where not long ago the rebels showed their destructive propensities and at Baltimore (Maryland) where, not long since, the union flag was not permitted to float. We were greeted the same as at the more northern cities. We arrived at the Capitol (Washington City) at six P.M. and took up line of march for Meridian Hill, a distance of about four miles. Arriving, we stopped for the night with company B, from Syracuse, who gave us a good supper and comfortable lodgings.
In the morning we were greeted by the whizzing of numerous balls in close proximity to our ear, which caused us considerable uneasiness until we were told what it means. The Pickets of a regt. of Mass. boys, situated a short distance south of us, fired their guns without regard to direction, and their balls came where we were. They fired again while we were eating breakfast, some of the balls striking the ground nearby, but we had learned at the firing before if we were not hurt when we heard the report there was no use of fear. So, we were perfectly at ease.
After breakfast we helped company B strike their tents and marched to our present location, a half mile farther, where were already located Company's A and C. Our tents soon arrived and we went to work and put them up. They are made of heavy Canvas, about eight feet square and capable of accommodating four or five, which is the number generally distributed among the tents. Those that could get boards use them for a floor, with straw over, and those that could not use straw only. In the tent with myself are George Watkins, Frank Crosier and Charles Foot. We sleep like pigs in clover, with our blankets around us, and our knapsacks for pillows.
As for the eatables, we have a plenty of it, and good, having meat every meal and beefsteak a good share of the time and a change of other provisions that are good. For drink we have coffee night and morning and water for dinner. We are situated in a field containing nearly an hundred acres, there being plenty room for drill, besides the space taken up by the tents and four companies on the ground now, and we are expecting more every day, there being seven yet to come. At first we were located near, and using water from the spring that was poisoned and it had to be watched. But as we have removed to another part of the field, we use water from a well at a house nearby.
There has nothing of importance transpired since we came here, but there are preparations going on for a hard fight. Regiments are traveling to the Virginia side as fast as they can be driven, enough to go into a town. This afternoon we received our sabers. Our other arms, horses and equipment we have not received, as it was deemed advisable by our officers to drill on foot for a time. The flag presented to the Oneonta boys, is now floating over our Captain's tent.
We are situated four miles north of the Capitol. We have a Negro cook and there is no occasion for fault finding when persons live as we do. I am sitting on my knapsack, which is lying on the bottom of my tent, with a board on my knees to write upon. There is one thing more I must mention and I close. Last evening we received from the young ladies of Schenevas Valley [Otsego Co. NY] valuable presents, which came very acceptably at the present time, worked by their own hands. A needle case filled with necessaries, the name of the person presented to painted on the outside, a Havelock and a Towel, presented each person that passed through Schenevas in the glorious cause. They are also preparing plaid flannel shirts to send, which will not come amiss. Hurrah for the Schenevas girls - long will they be remembered. If anything transpires that will be of interest to you, I will inform you. Please accept this from one that is here to defend the Country, even to the last.
I.J. Emmons
P.S., Since closing this, our Company have arrested a man supposed to be a spy, and he has been sent to headquarters for examination. He had too many stories to tell to pass this Company and was arrested immediately. When arrested he attempted to draw a saber from its sheath, belonging to one of our party but did not succeed. I.J.M.
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Ira Jeffres Emmons (b. 17 Nov. 1840) son of Ira and Elizabeth Emmons. enlisted 12 August 1861 at Oneonta, Otsego Co. NY as a private in Company D, 3rd NY Cavalry. Taken prisoner at Plymouth NC April 20, 1864. Sent to Andersonville then to Charleston, thence to Florence SC, thence to Goldsboro. Paroled at Goldsboro and sent to Wilmington Feb. 25, 1865. Exchanged, Discharged from service April 28, 1865.
Ira J. Emmons died 18 September 1927, Grand Rapids, Kent Co. MI
Obituary (Grand Rapids Press, Grand Rapids, MI, Sept. 19, 19 27): After lying unconscious for more than 60 hours from injuries received in a traffic mishap Thursday noon, Ira J. Emmons, 86, Civil War veteran, died at Butterworth hospital early Sunday morning. Emmons, a member of John A. Dix post, G.A.R. of Luverne, Minn., was injured while attending the national encampment.
Accounts of the accident differ widely, according to police, one report stating Emmons was struck by the car driven by Paul Mientek, 17, of 791 Lincoln Av. NW.; another saying he walked into the side of the car while still other witnesses assert he was not hit but lost his balance when he jumped from in front of the automobile and fell, striking his head against the pavement. His skull was fractured.
The body, now at Greenhoe & Hatch mortuary, will be taken to Luverne Tuesday morning, accompanied by the widow, Mrs. Jane Emmons. Two sons by a former marriage survive, one residing in California and the other in Luverne.
Emmons was on his way to the city hall when injured, according to his wife. They were to have left the city early Thursday afternoon, she said, and he had started for the city hall Thursday morning to look over the registration list in an effort to find old comrades. Mrs. Emmons was buying their railroad tickets when her husband was hurt. When he did not return as train time drew near, Mrs. Emmons became worried. She finally called police headquarters and was informed her husband had been taken to Butterworth hospital. She was a constant attendant at his bedside until his death.
Comrade Emmons was born in Oneonta, N.Y. Nov. 17, 1840. He enlisted in the Union army soon after the outbreak of the war, joining the 3rd New York cavalry. He was in the saddle for three years, taking part in a number of engagements. Soon after being transferred to the commissary department in 1864, he was captured by confederates who surrounded his contingent at Plymouth, N.C. He was in Andersonville prison for 10 months until the close of the war.
For 17 years Mr. Emmons was a station agent for the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific railroad at Atkinson, Ill. He had lived in Luverne, Minn. for the past nine years.
[note: Buried Maplewood Cemetery, Luverne, Rock Co. MN]
