Chapter One

FORMATION OF THE REGIMENT.
The 115th Regiment, New York State volunteers, was recruited principally in the counties of Saratoga, Montgomery, Fulton, and Hamilton, during the months of July and August, 1862; and while organizing, were quartered at Camp Fonda, a short distance from the village of Fonda, Montgomery County. Such was the patriotism then prevailing in the district, that in forty days from the time the first enlistment was made, the ranks were full and the regiment ready to take the field.

The officers and men were mostly young, of a superior class, and came from every profession and trade. They threw down the scythe, the cradle, and the rake, left the workshop, the store, the school, and the sacred desk, to battle for the liberties of our beloved land. The day of large bounties had not dawned. The most of those who enlisted did so from motives of the purest patriotism. All left the comforts and the endearments of home, and severed almost every valued earthly tie, for the purpose of protecting the starry flag.

The ladies of the district presented the regiment with two costly flags. The officers and men silently vowed their determination to protect those flags, and promised never to allow their glory to be polluted with the touch of traitors. They fulfilled those solemn declarations.

OFF FOR THE WAR.
On the 29th day of August, 1862, the 115th Regiment, New York State volunteers, broke camp at Fonda and left for the seat of war.

On the morning of departure, the ladies presented to the brave soldiers boys untold numbers of beautiful bouquets; and from every window in town white handkerchiefs waved, while the streets were alive with people who came to bid us farewell.

We left in a train of first-class passenger cars, at 11 o'clock A.M., reaching Albany at 2 o'clock P.M., where we partook of dinner at the Delavan House.

At Amsterdam, the friends of the regiment filled all the space around the depot, blocked up the track, and when the cars moved off deafening cheers went up from the crowded mass of people.

We crossed the ferry at Albany to Greenbush, where all hands were packed aboard of emigrant cars, and hurried with lightning speed through the beautiful valley of the Hudson.

New York City was gained at 2 o'clock on the morning of the 30th, and the regiment immediately marched to the Park Barracks, and bunked upon the floor until daylight. We considered it rather a hard bed.

FROM NEW YORK TO PHILADELPHIA.
On Saturday, August 30th, at 7 o'clock regiment embarked on a transport for Amboy, New Jersey.

It was our first experience on such a boat and almost all of the men lay on deck to enjoy the cool bracing, sea air. Four hours brought us safely to Amboy, and there we took rickety emigrant cars for Philadelphia, a distance of eighty-nine miles from New York.

Sunday, August 31.---We marched into the Quaker City at daylight, the Cayadutta Cornet Band playing the "Star Spangled Banner." A halt was made at the Soldiers' Retreat where a free breakfast was waiting for the regiment.

All ate heartily of the abundance furnished, and in conclusion gave cheers for thanks.

OFF FOR BALTIMORE.
At Philadelphia we were loaded on freight cars, and started for Baltimore, one hundred and fifteen miles distant. The day was delightful, and all nature seemed wreathed in her sweetest smiles.

At nearly every house in Delaware which we passed, the people would run out, and display the stars and stripes.

At Wilmington the whole population turned out to greet us, and to bid us "God speed." We reached Baltimore, the monumental city, at 4 o'clock, P.M., and were agreeably surprised to find her covered with flags.

The regiment paraded through the principal streets, and received a general ovation.

12,000 new troops passed through the city during the day; nearly all of them from New York.

At night we took freight cars on the Baltimore and Ohio R.R., and were all night going forty miles.

Bands of guerrillas were hovering around, and threatened to throw the train from the track.

ACTIVE SERVICE.
Monday, September 1, 1862.---This morning we reached Sandy Hook, Maryland, and were immediately armed and equipped for service.

A few rebel scouts were observed sneaking around Point of Rocks, probably watching our movements.

In the afternoon the regiment was divided up, and ordered to guard the Baltimore and Ohio R.R.

Companies G and H went to Summit Bridge, two companies to Peckham's Bridge, and the remaining six companies took up quarters in the city of Charlestown.

Our detachment reached Summit Point, at midnight, and relieved two companies of the 27th New York.

Tuesday, September 2.---We threw out a picket for the first time. All of us began to feel very hungry. The planters pretended to be Union men, but refused to sell us anything because they said we were d--d Yankees. At last some colored people were found, who contracted to bake 100 hot cakes for the men. They baked them in pots and on griddles. Lieutenant Barlow spread on the butter, and I carried them out to the men, waiting at the door of the hut.

At midnight the Union troops abandoned Winchester, and blew up the forts. We were 8 miles away, but felt the earth vibrate, and saw the lurid flames and thick black smoke curling through the air. It was a grand and impressive sight.

At 12 o'clock our cavalry (the bloody 8th N.Y.) dashed down the road with a clatter that made the hair on our heads stand. Being roused up from a deep sleep, and rather green withal, we thought that the legions of Jeff. Davis were close at hand.

"Fall in company H!" thundered the commanding officer. We managed to get into line in the course of time; but the worst of it all was, that we had to remain there until 9 o'clock the next morning.

The rebels did not come, and we thanked our stars that they did not, for we had but three rounds of ammunition each, and there was no supply nearer than the city of Charlestown.

THE SHENANDOAH GUERRILLAS.
The beautiful and rich valley of the Shenandoah used to swarm with a class of men, who were good Union farmers in the day-time, and bloody guerrillas at night. They would prowl over the country, murdering lone Union pickets, destroying the property of loyal citizens, and killing defenseless people without mercy. They were loyal when surrounded by northern bayonets, but would stab you to the heart at every opportunity.

Some of their deeds would horrify the hardest heart, and chill the warmest blood. Yet they were done in the name of the Confederate States of America!

ON THE MARCH. A PURE REBEL CITY.
Early on the morning of September 3d, 3,000 of our troops reached Summit Point, from Winchester. They were black with dust and smoke, and looked like old veterans in earnest. We received orders to fall back to Harper's Ferry, and at 10 o'clock A.M., the column moved off at a rapid rate.

At two o'clock P.M., the city of Charlestown was reached, and we immediately marched to the Court House yard, where a lunch of bread, pork, and hot coffee was waiting.

We looked with a great deal of interest at the building where John Brown was tried and condemned to death. We found Charlestown to be a regular hot-bed of secession. The people had their houses all closed, to show their detestation of the Yankees.

Not a person was to be seen in the street, although crowds of women and children swarmed at every window. They were as silent as the grave; and as the Union troops marched proudly and steadily though the streets, and the bands of music played national pieces, their countenances bore a sad look. All their fathers, sons, and brothers were in the rebel army.

At sundown we halted at Bolivar heights, near Harper's Ferry, and passed the night on the cold ground, with only the starry canopy of Heaven for a covering.

The 126th Regiment, New York Volunteers, presented us with warm coffee for the whole regiment, and had the kindness to deal it out to the men besides.

Never was a more needful and acceptable gift received.

PITCHING CAMP.
On the 4th day of September, we pitched tents for the first time; and, of course, made rather awkward work of it.

The 39th New York and 9th Vermont were camped on the right of us.

SEARCHING REBEL HOUSES.
There was a house situated on a hill, a short distance from our camp, where on several occasions rockets were thrown up and signal lights exhibited, so that the rebels could see them.

Valuable information was, I doubt not, conveyed to the rebel generals in that way.

On Friday, September 5th, Company H was ordered to proceed to the house, and search it for a quantity of arms supposed to have been concealed there. The company proceeded to a point near by, when Lieutenant B-----selected 25 men to perform the work, and left the remainder as a reserve, to act, in case we encountered superior numbers of the enemy.

Shortly before reaching the house, several men dressed in gray were observed skulking around; but by the time we reached the place they were nowhere to be found.

Arriving in front of the door the squad was halted, and the lieutenant addressed the lady of the mansion who was standing in the front yard, as follows:
"Madam, I see you have your doors locked. I have an order to search your house, and the order must be obeyed. Give me the keys, and you will save us the trouble of breaking open the doors. My men shall not harm you, or to touch as much as an apple without your permission."

Seeing that there was no alternative she handed over the keys, and after placing sentinels a short distance off to prevent surprise, the work of search began. Bureaus, beds and drawers, were thoroughly searched, but no arms found.

At last, we came across a low door in the upper story; and upon opening it, found a long dark passage, reaching the whole length of the house.

Being satisfied that there were no Rebs inside, we proceeded to explore; and soon got hold of something, and upon bringing it out to daylight found it to be and U.S. wall tent; marked "2d Cal. Vols."

Soon another of the same kind came to view. Three fancy Virginia rifles, nicely hidden away, were also discovered and taken possession of. A quantity of bayonets and bayonet scabbards, large numbers of shirts, drawers, and pants, with Uncle Sam's mark on, together with two thousand pounds of bacon, were hauled out of the darkness. The barn was also thoroughly searched and the boys ran their bayonets full length into the hay, by way of feeling for secreted rebels.

Several barrels of cider stood in an orchard close by the house, and the men were awful thirsty, but were afraid to drink, for fear that the cider had been poisoned. Seeing a young darkey, one of the boys asked him if that cider was poisoned? "No Sah," promptly answered Sambo. "Well, then drink some," continued the soldier, handing him a cup full of it.

The colored individual soon drained it to the dregs, and handed back the empty cup with a "thank you, sah."

Being satisfied with the experiment, the whole party drank heartily.

Before we left, several ladies had congregated on the spot, and some of them turned up their noses and threw back their heads, to show their disgust to "blue coats;" and one of the fair rebels called us such names as, "mean Yankees," "cut throats," "mud-sills," &c. We listened very attentively, but preserved our peace, and soon left them "alone in their glory" and anger.

A day or two afterward, several of our pickets were murdered on their posts, and the inmates of that house were the guilty parties.

The Union troops riddled it so completely with bullets, that every pane of glass was smashed, and every clapboard pierced with holes.

Other companies of the regiment searched other houses, at the same time.

THE FIRST MAN SHOT IN THE REGIMENT.
John Hubbard, of Company A, was the first man shot in the regiment, by the enemy. He was on picket, when a guerrilla stole up to him and fired, the ball passing through the leg, causing amputation.

It was a cowardly shot, only worthy of a traitor.

A BUSY SUNDAY.
On Sunday, September 7, the 60th Ohio and the 115th, chopped down twenty acres of trees to prevent the rebel cavalry from dashing in upon us.

Chaplain Clemens preached to us in the afternoon, and in the evening, a large prayer meeting was held in the open air.

FORAGING EXPEDITION.
On the 8th of September, Company H, and a detachment of other troops, accompanied by a large number of wagons, marched several miles to a splendid plantation owned by a Colonel Washington, an officer in the rebel army. They confiscated three hundred tons of Hay in the name of Uncle Sam.

The day was burning hot; not a breath of air was stirring, and thick clouds of dust settled over the marching column, so that all of us suffered considerably, and some to the extent of sun-stroke. However, we made out to live through it.

A rebel spy was captured on the road, and of course, he pretended to be a good Union man, and claimed to be a member of an Ohio regiment. But that did not save him from being delivered over to the provost marshal.

THE REBELS ADVANCE UPON US IN FORCE.
On Friday, September 12th, the rebels appeared near Maryland Heights in large force. Companies A, E, and K, of our regiment, were sent to the Heights to aid in checking the advance of A.P. Hill's rebel corps.