The 76th NY at Bull Run


THE GAZETTE AND BANNER
CORTLAND, NEW YORK
SEPTEMBER 11, 1862 VOL. 1, NO. 49 Pg 3, COL 1,2

THE LOSSES IN THE 76TH REGIMENT

We have made every exertion in our power to ascertain the casualties in the 76th Regiment during the late battles in Virginia. After the battles, an order was issued prohibiting any officer or private from writing anything in regard to the affair within forty days. On Friday last we telegraphed to Lyman Reynolds, Esq., now in Washington, to send us the particulars in regards to the 76th, and on Monday we received the following letter:

Washington, Sept 5, 1862.

Friend Golf: I received your telegram yesterday, too late for the mail, but will give you what information I have of the 76th Regiment to-day, and I can truly say that the people of Cortland County have reason to be proud of the 76th.

For about four weeks she has been in the front of Pope's army, doing valiantly for the stars and stripes. One week ago the Regiment opened the fight and poured such a rain of hail and iron among the rebels, that they retreated from the field.

Captain Grover, Captain Fox and Captain Sager fell at the head of their companies, severely wounded. On Thursday night, Captain Snow and Lieutenant Carrier were also wounded at the same time.

On Friday night Captain Watrous and Lieutenant Williams received their wounds, (Williams since died.) Lieutenant Van Slyck received a slight injury from a piece of shell, but was saved by a package of letters in his pocket. I think these are all that were wounded on the battlefield.

I have not been able to learn the names or number of the dead or wounded privates, or how many or who have been taken prisoner, except Major Livingston who was taken prisoner on Thursday night. This I do know from the officers wounded, that there was not a coward in the Regiment. The General honored them on the field, and Colonel Wainwright, a man of great skill and courage, said that a braver or truer Regiment never faced the cannon's mouth, or fell in the dint of battle.

The Chaplain of the Regiment has been everywhere a minister of mercy. He came from the battlefield on last Monday night, driving an ambulance filled with our dying and wounded soldiers. He is now in the city on duty, serving the wounded officers and privates.- Night and day he is found over the couch of soldiers, and has proven himself not only an ----- preacher but a most efficient minister to the sick and dying soldiers.

Dr. Goodyear is here and has ample scope for the exercise of his great skill and sympathy, and great credit is due him. He is here just in time, and you may rest assured that all that can be done is being done to comfort these who are suffering. Most of the wounded of the Regiment in the city are not in great danger.

The colors of the Regiment, presented by Mrs. Campbell, are yet in their hands. They were once, I understand, taken from them, but were soon retaken and borne victorious from the field.

Colonel Wainwright carried them during a part of Friday, on his horse, in full view of the enemy. They are torn with shot and shell and stained with blood and are still being borne by the remaining portion of the Regiment, numbering about two hundred - the remainder being unable to do duty.

The loss in killed and wounded is not as severe as was at first supposed, as many are unable to keep in the ranks under a "double quick" of over two miles. I think thirty killed and one hundred wounded, will about cover the loss.

Major Livingston has just came into my room, having been paroled yesterday with twelve hundred others - eighteen belonging to the 76th. He slightly wounded, but will be fit for duty as soon as he is exchanged.

Yours,
L. Reynolds.


Rev. H.S. Richardson, Chaplain of the Regiment, sent the following telegram to the Utica Morning Herald:

WASHINGTON, SEPT 9, 1862

TO THE EDITOR OF THE UTICA MORNING HEARLD:

I am just from the battlefield, and as soon as possible send you a list of the wounded officers of the 76th N.Y.V. I can not yet learn the names of the privates or the number dead. Capt A. J. Grover, two wounds; Capt. O.C. Fox, wounded; Capt. C.L. Watrous, wounded; Capt. A.J. Sager, supposed to be dead;; Capt. A. L. Swan, wounded; Second Lieut. R. W. Carrier, wounded; Second Lieut. R. Williams, dead; Maj. C.E. Livingston, missing. He was last seen on the field, rallying the men for the second time on the colors. The 76th N.Y.V. came off the field on Saturday evening, after about three weeks' continued fighting, with about two hundred men all told.

They have acquitted themselves with great honor; their praise is on all lips. They still have their colors, presented by Mrs. S. Campbell, and though torn by shot and shell and stained with blood, they are thought none the less beautiful than when first received from the hands of the "patriot lady" of New York Mills. I came off the field last night at 12 o'clock, driving an omnibus filled with wounded and dying soldiers.

We find the following among the list of wounded, who are set down as belonging to the 76th. We have been unable, up to present writing to get a list of the killed. We hope, however, to be able to do so before going to press:

C.D. Bouton, knee,
O. Dickenson, arm,
L. Judson, hand,
L. Finerge, elbow,
A.B. Wagner, arm,
A. Satterli, arm,
J. Houghtaling, arm,
A. Harris, ankle,
C. Cook, side,
H.S. Beach, side,
H.D. Way, foot,
J. Shilla, hip,
A. Vosburgh, eye,
T.H. McClenthan, thigh,
E.J. Cox, not stated,
Capt. A. Sager, groin,
E. Fuller, not stated,
Sergt. H. Taylor, not stated,
Capt. A. Weldman, not stated,
Major Charles E. Livingston, prisoner, since released on parole,
Capt. Watrous, arm and thigh,
Capt. O.C. Fox, badly,
Capt. A.J. Grover, twice,
Capt. Swan, not stated,
Lieut. Carrier, not stated,
Lieut. Williams, not stated, since dead,
Lieut. E.D. Van Slyck, slightly,
Harrison Owen, supposed killed,
Richard Draper, not stated,
Francis E. Verran, elbow,
Mathew Cowlin, not stated,
D.H. Duel, not stated,
Parmenas Norton, not stated,
John Miles, not stated,
A. Osborne, not stated,
J.E. Parce, not stated,
C.R. Dingham, not stated,
W. H. Bruschl, not stated,
William Cahill, head,
S. Rindge, not stated,
A. Wyckoff, not stated,
E.G. Warren, not stated,
G.W. Shapley, not stated,

We have as yet been unable to obtain any list of those who were killed, and it may be some time yet before we shall be able to do so. The wounds of Capt. Sager were at first supposed to be mortal, and very faint hopes were given for his recovery. Later accounts, however, state that he is gradually getting better, and it is now believed that there is a strong probability that he will entirely recover. None of the other officers who are among the wounded are believed to be dangerous.

Accounts from both public and private sources speak in the very highest terms of the conduct of the 76th. They stood up in the heat of battle like veterans. There was not a coward among them. Their colors were captured once, but were immediately retaken.- They are said to be completely riddled with shot and shell, and stained with blood.- And who could have doubted the bravery and daring of the 76th. They were, for the most part, our friends and neighbors, citizens of Cortland County. When they left our village in December last, we expressed the opinion that a finer or braver looking body of men never marched to the field of battle. And their conduct in the recent engagement, in which they took so conspicuous a part, has fully verified the assertion. All honor to our own gallant Seventy-Sixth.

The corps d'arms to which the 76th belongs are among the troops sent in pursuit of the rebel invaders in Maryland and may soon have another opportunity to display their valor.

Transcribed by B. Conrad Bush from microfilm copy of the Gazette & Banner found in the Cortland Public Library, Cortland, NY.


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