Company H, Historical Notes
Company H was raised primarily from Long Island by George C Hastings, who was a Lieutenant at the time. Recruits gathered in Brooklyn for the shooting test on September 16thand 17th(Friday and Saturday). An ad posted for the test also stated that four good strong candidates would be made Sergeants. Those wishing to apply or ask for information would be sent to Company D’s headquarters at 160 Montague St. At the end of the war, Company H would be folded into Company D.
After the shooting tests and the filling of the company’s ranks, Company H was moved from New York City to Weehawken and finally to Washington D.C. November 1st. Once in D.C., various companies of the Regiment was gathered and formally mustered into service November 29th1861.
The initial officer staff of the Company was:
George Hastings, Captain
William Winthrop, First Lieutenant
Frederick Peet Jr, Second Lieutenant
Albert Barret, First Sgt.
All but Hastings were former members of the vaunted New York 7th Militia, which was activated for 30 days of service in April of 1861.
With the winter thaw complete, the company moved with the regiment to Fortress Monroe, March 22ndaboard the transport ship Emperor. They arrived in Hamilton on the 25th. The regiment moved out for Yorktown April 1st. On April 4ththey began reconnsiance missions. As the fighting began, Company H would move to the front of the line, and during the course of the fighting was moved to the rear and held in reserve. Private David Phelps would be killed when several members of company B, against orders lit a fire and the smoke drew artillery fire from the Confederates. He was regarded by Lt. Peet as one of the best men in the company.
The regiment was the first to occupy Yorktown after the fortifications were deserted by the Confederates. On May 18ththey were relieved of duty and sent by steamer North. The Regiment arrived at the new camp May 21st. They were alerted for movement on the 27th, heading towards Hanover Court House where Privates Clinton Loveridge and Peter Lewis were wounded. First Sergeant Barrett and Company H would distinguish themselves for using advanced tactics to find an enemy sharpshooter. They rigged a dummy “soldier” up and moved the dummy around until the Confederate fired a shot. Once they saw the puff of smoke from the Reb’s rifle, they crawled forward and fired at the tree, killing the Confederate. Company H would be used for this purpose many times in the future. The regiment was moved back to camp and remained there until late June when the Seven Days Battle found the regiment moved towards the James River.
Company H was not heavily involved in Mechanicsville or Gaines Mill, but was involved in battle at Glendale on the 30th. The Company was under heavy fire Lt. Peet was shot through the lung. Hastings detailed Privates Martin and McCormick to stay with Peet at the hospital. There is no record of a Private Martin, however, Martin Nichols was taken POW along with Peet, and this is probably the Martin he refers to. Smiliarly, there is no McCormick, however Edward Carmick was taken prisoner as well. John Acker and Edwin Lynde had a shell land between their heads, while another shell tore through Lynde’s blanket roll. Hastings also had a close call with a shell striking between his and First Sergeant Albert Barrett’s head.
During the battle the 61stNew York had taken serious casualties and Col. Barrow had put Captain Hastings in charge of part of the regiment.
The regiment was put in reserve at this time in order to take care of the sick and wounded. The march overland started in August, and the regiment was destined for Antietam. On 9/22/62 the regiment and company reorganized and promoted to fill the ranks.
John Schermerhorn writes in a letter home that the Company went into the Seven Days battle with 80 men and left with only 18.
Company H’s Command was now:
George Hastings Major
William Winthrop Captain
Roswell Weston 1st Lt.
Michael McGeough 2ndLt.
John Schemerhorn 1stSgt
There was an upheaval at the officer level as a result of the battle of Gaines Mill. Hastings, Winthrop along with Caspar Trepp and two other officers were arrested by Berdan for several charges related to the insinuations that Berdan was not fit to lead the regiment. The charges were dropped, and Albert Barrett was transferred to D company as a 2ndLt. The 1stRegiment was held in reserve for the battle of Antietam, but did participate in the actions following. The Regiment went into camp as of October 3rd. The Regiment was scheduled to move, however the supply lines were disrupted by JEB Stuart and forced a delay in movement. On October 30ththe troops broke camp and headed south toward Harper’s Ferry. They stayed at Warrenton from the 9thto 16thof November. Both Regiments moved towards Falmouth, where they arranged winter quarters on the 11thof December.
For much of the battle of Fredericksburg, the 1stRegiment was held in reserve. They did participate in skirmish detail for much of the second day, however never were fully engaged. The Regiment returned to camp for the winter.
The following spring the army was camped in Chancellorsville while the army was changing commands. During the battle Major Hastings was injured in the hip and never returned to active duty. Company H did not suffer major casualties during this battle.
The regiment limped into Gettysburg but was able to assist in slowing the rebel advances on the second day. Company H was stationed in the Peach Orchard near Pitzer’s Run. Here privates Martin and William Nichols were both singled out by Col. Trepp for bravery under fire. Martin would later be promoted to Corporal and William would rise to the rank of Sergeant. John Schemerhorn was severely wounded but refused to be discharged and would eventually be mustered out with the regiment.
After Gettysburg, company H would take part in several battles, and at Locust Grove, November, 27, David Fisk, would be wounded. At Mine Run, three days later, Lt. Col. Casper Trepp, who was in charge of the 1stRegiment was killed. This left Captain Marble in charge of the regiment, since Major Hastings was injured and detached to Washington D.C. Marble moved the 1stRegiment to Botts Farm in Brandy to establish winter quarters.
Col. Berdan resigned his commission January 2ndafter a letter by Trepp had been circulated that accused Berdan of cowardice. The Regiment was left without field grade officers. After Grant had taken charge of the Armies, the First Regiment was assigned to Major Mattocks of the 17thMaine. Captain Marble remained as a field officer for the 1stRegiment.
The next major engagement was the Wilderness in May of 1864. Almost immediately Major Mattocks was taken prisoner along with Corporal Martin Nichols and Private Orrin Doty of Company H. The Regiment was used as skirmishers for the first two days. On the third day they were instructed to take a battery on the Orange Road. 2ndLt. Michael McGeough was wounded in the leg, which was amputated. He would die less then a month later.
The fighting continued through the Wilderness, on the morning of the 11that Po River, George Wiggins, who had already been wounded in 1862, was again wounded. At Harris House on the 19thHarvey Matthews was wounded. After Harris House, the Regiment was on the move toward Cold Harbor, when they encountered a heavy force at the Totopotomoy. John Snyder of Company H was mortally wounded. Immediately following the battle at Totopotomoy, the Union Army assaulted Cold Harbor and Aaron Fuller of Company H was wounded.
The siege at Petersburg was to be one of the last campaigns for much of the Company. By this time the First Regiment was down to 175 men. Almost all of the field grade officers were no longer with the regiment. Company H was in reserve for the first battle at Harrison’s Creek on June 16th, but at Hare’s Farm on the 18th, William R. Hicks was killed. On the 24thCompanies H and G were sent to try and disrupt Confederate Artillery. They were able to occupy abandoned rifle pits and kept the artillery silent for much of the day. On July 17th, Louis Soule was not in Camp and was presumed captured.
The First Regiments last fight was at Deep Run August 15-16th. Companies A, B, C were all mustered out.
After the 21st, Company H was left with the following officers:
William Winthrop, Captain
Woodward Hodgson, 2ndLt. (promoted on 8/18/64)
John Schemerhorn, 1stSgt.
On September 16thof 1864, those in Company H that were able to be discharged were, and what was left of Company H was folded into Company D.
Those that were transferred were:
2ndLt. Woodward Hodgson
Sergeant William Burroughs
Corporal Martin Nichols – C 2ndUSSS, 124thNY
Corporal Issac Smith – C 2ndUSSS, 124thNY, 93rdNY
Private John Brower
Private Henry Ecker – C 2ndUSSS, 124thNY
Private James Fisk
Private Aaron Fuller – C 2ndUSSS, 124thNY
Private Marvin Hildebrant – C 2ndUSSS, 124thNY (corporal)
Private Akin Ingersoll
Private George Lattin
Private Sylvester Lawson – C 2ndUSSS, 124thNY (2ndLt)
Private George Livingston
Private Edwin Lynd
Private Harvey Matthews
Private William Nichols
Private Louis Soule – C 2ndUSSS, 124thNY
Private Andrew Westervelt– C 2ndUSSS, 124thNY, 93rdNY
Private Philip Servis – C 2ndUSSS, 124thNY
Private Orrin Doty – C 2ndUSSS, 124thNY
Many of these soldiers would be discharged on November 22ndalong with Company D. The remaining would be folded into Company C of the 2ndUSSS. Those who were not discharged with the 2ndUSSS, were transferred to Company H of the 124thNY. They were mustered out on 6/3/65. Still others were transferred from 124thto the 93rdNY they were mustered out 6/29/65. Some would be given promotions in Company H, 124ththose are noted in parenthesis
Martin Nichols and Orin Doty who were POWs after the 5thof May (and were sent to Andersonville Prison camp) were transferred on paper to Company C and then to the 124thNY. They would be sent home when Andersonville was liberated.
According to statistics provided by a study done in 1889, Company H had 110 men enlisted
1 Officer was Killed – Michael McGeough
6 Enlisted were Killed – John Snyder
William Hicks
David Phelps
Three Unknown
8 Died of Disease - GW Vincent
Joseph Newberry
six others
By far, company H had the lowest percentage of members who were casualties out of the First Regiment (Company D had one more casualty). The regiment’s total loss was 10% or 153 killed. The regiment suffered 546 total killed and wounded.
POST WAR
William Winthrop would head up the office of Military Justice, teach Law at West Point and wrote one of the founding texts of Military Law.
Clinton Loveridge, though severly wounded and with his leg ampuated, would go on to paint American pastoral landscapes that are still featured in art museums today.
Many of the other veterans of company H would return to former jobs such as farmer, carpenter or clerk. George Hastings left law and became a Customs Agent for the Government. Albert Barrett became a doctor, George Barber a surgeon and George Defandorg a dentist. Erastus Tooker opened a ferry between Long Island and Fire Island that still runs today, as well as getting a permit to build the first structure on Fire Island, a clam shack. John Schermerhorn would become an engineer and would design children's toys in his free time, Andrew Burr would become a local politician and overseer of the poor in Islip, John Acker would become the 2nd Deputy Clerk of Kings County. Issac Smith became a Clergyman. Sylvester Lawson, who would be promoted to 2nd Lt. with the 124th would open his own store after the war, George Pumpelly would start a business manufacturing lumber.As far as our records show, only one man lied about his name, Jacob Crawford was really Samuel Bruce and one changed his name post-war, Charles Hicks became Charles Buckman.
About half of the company left New York after the war, with Aaron Fuller moving the farthest away, to Oregon.
John Snyder is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.
There are still names on the roster that have no information attached to them, however the modern company H still strives to attain the highest degree of accuracy in keeping historical records.