Howard County, MD in the Civil War

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Back to 141st New York Infantry

Chamberlin, Leander. Manuscript diary by a private in the 141st New York Infantry. Sold at auction, 2011.

CIVIL WAR ARCHIVE OF ALBERT J. WHITLEY 141ST NEW YORK, 70 items. Offered at auction, 2005.

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Corning (NY) Journal, September 25, 1862

REMEMBER THE VOLUNTEERS. The importance of sending letters and papers to the volunteers is not properly realized the their friends. Rev. Thomas K. Beecher, the chaplain of the 141st Regiment, in a letter to the Elmira Advertiser, from their camp between Baltimore and Washington, thus speaks on the subject.

You would open your eyes to see the letters that pour into my tent for home - over two hundred and fifty to-day. And if you could see the men run to get the letters you'd tell people to write and send papers. I see already how cheaply you at home can do a great favor to any absent soldier, particularly in he be a private.

Take any late paper, send it to him at a cost of a one cent stamp and you make one man thoroughly happy for several days - a letter is still better.

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Hornellsville Tribune, October 2, 1862

From the 141st Regiment.

CAMP 141 REGIMENT N. Y. Vols.
Laurel Station, Prince George County,
MARYLAND, Sept, 25, 1862.

EDS. TRIBUNE :—Our ride from Elmira to this place was one long ovation. Oue continued cheer and waving of fags, Hats and handkerchiefs greeted the regiment from the moment we stepped on the cars till we arrived Here. Our march through Baltimore was one of the kind you read of. From nearly every house was displayed the stars and stripes, and the Ladies gave us a good lunch. We are encamped in a fine meadow on a sloping ground, between the Baltimore & Ohio R. R., track and the carriage road, 18 miles from Washington, our tents extending from one road to the other, and so near the track that we can readily distinguish and converse with the passengers in the cars. Our duty is to guard the R. R, and the bridge which crosses the Patuxet at this point. Our men are now engaged in building an abattis and blockhouse at the bridge. Laurel is a neat, sleepy little lazy village of one street, the houses built mostly of stone, the streets shaded, and a large old fashioned pump in the middle of the street in front of every third or fourth house. Before the war it was quite a manufacturing town, but at present there is no business of any kind carried on, and hardly a white man to be seen. Everything is different from a Northern village. The wagons are large enough to make a dozen like those made by neighbor Conderman, and are drawn around by three or four horses with a slave riding one of them Everything human is sleepy, lazy, listless and inactive— 200 years behind the North. But the country is magnificent; such fine rolling land, and not a hill to be seen.— Fruit of nearly every kind is in abundance. Our boys go out and bring in bushels of grapes and peaches that grow wild on the river bank, The inhabitants all profess Union sentiments, and appear friendly, but they don't disguise their hostility to the Lincoln Administration. There is, however, no doubt that they are anxious for the war to close, and nothing would go more against them than to have Stonewall march up this valley. The health of the Regiment is unprecedented. This morning there are but two in the Hospital, and they are laughing and talking so that I hear them now. Our, boys are all well. Doctor Robinson is undoubtedly one of the most competent and certainly the kindest hearted and most sympathizing Surgeon in the whole Army— and to his foresight and care and that of his excellent assistants are we indebted to the excellent assistants are we indebted to the unusual good health of the Regiment. His previous experience in the service didn't hurt him any. Capt. Russell and Lieuts. Barton and Collins have already become veterans in the service—and do all in their power to make the men comfortable. Of course they stand high in the estimation of both men and officers—for what else could you expect when they are always ready to do one a kindness? Our company is fast learning the drill, and under the instruction of Orderly Fred Willor, bids fair to become the crack company of the Regiment.— Frank Crane, Ed Ward, Steve Gilbert and Jas Emery are members of the medical staff, and with Hospital Steward, Harris Sawyer, form quite a little company by themselves. They are gay as larks and make the life of the Regiment. Chief Bugler, George Gray, is organizing his men, and as I write the notes of his bugle come floating on the air. The living is a little tough to one unaccustomed to it, it is true, and it takes our boys some time to learn how to live on salt pork and hard crackers, but, as Levi Doty says, “it's better than Shaw's eggs,” and as the Colonel and all the officers feed on the same, we eat it without grumbling and grow fat. Soldier life is somewhat harder than sitting on Mack Browns corner and talking about it, but I havn't found a man yet that is the least bit homesick, or that would go home to day if he could. We have plenty to eat, drink and wear, and the only thing we miss is Billy Lavallett's Barber Shop, Have any of your readers any idea of where all the soldiers go? Every day we see from three to four Regiments pass, and it would do you good to see us exchange greetings— Don't we yell? We are expecting the 161st, (Col. Harrower) down this way daily and when they come we will make them deaf. This is an odd climate. The days are as hot as Steuben in July; and the nights as cold as a frogs nose. The dew comes on like rain, and the sun pops up hot as if shot out of a gun. The sky is red tilt near midnight, and we have lots of meteors and shooting star. We don't know how long we shall stay here, and by the Baltimore papers this morning. I see that we may be ordered on soon, so that my next may be written “mid dying groans, where shells shriek and bullets whistle.”

All communications should be directed to the name of the person, care of Captain, 141st Regt, N.Y, Vols, Washington, D. C.
M. W. H.

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Havana (NY) Journal, October 4, 1862

The 141st Regiment, (Col. Hathaway,) is stationed at Laurel, Maryland. A writer from this camp, says: “The boys have managed to capture one Secesh, and the Binghamton boys also succeeded in capturing one and shooting another through the breast. Everything is dear here—milk is 12 cents per quart, butter 37 1/2 cents per pound, and eggs 3 cents each, Our rations consist of a slice of raw salt pork, five sea biscuits, and a cup of coffee - sometimes beans in the place of port. Our tents are poor affairs—very thing and small. Four men 'bunk' in a tent. It goes first-rate now, but when we have storm the rain will come right through and drown us out. We are now engaged in building a fort near our encampment to defend a railroad bridge. Their are not many in the hospital considering that the water is quite bad.— Some of our tents are named respectively “Montour House,” “Brainard House,” “Haight's Hotel,” “Wild Cat Tiger,” and “Fort Donelson.” The streets are named Havana, Baldwin, Third Avenue, Canisteo, Steuben, &c.”

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Hornelleville NY Weekly Tribune, October 9, 1862

From the 141st Regiment.

CAMP HATHAWAY, 141st Regiment, N. Y. Vols. LAUREL, Md., Oct. 5, 1862.

DEAR TRIBUNE: We are here yet, and with no immediate prospect of a change of location. Of course this suits the boys, as we would much rather become skilled than killed. Since my last letter, two companies, B. and C., have been detailed on picket duty between here and Washington, and every day they pick up deserters, stragglers and spies.

The good health of the Regiment continues and we have had but two accidents, one of a young boy from Chemung, who was shot in the neck by the discharge of a revolver, but will probably recover—and the other was John Burnet, of Crosby Creek, who had his fore finger and the ball of his thumb shot off by the accidental discharge of his rifle.

Last week, Sergeant Mart Zimmerman, of Capt. Doty's Co, 23d Regiment, called on us, and brought the bad intelligence of the death of Olin Bennett, who was shot in battle while nobly fighting for his country.

Yesterday our camp was honored by a visit from Secretary Seward, accompanied by his son and daughter-in-law. They entered the camp without any parade or display, and “dropped in” at the Colonels, where they spent a quiet hour, and as I passed the open tent and saw them seated at a pine table, dining on plain soldiers’ fare, I could not help thinking that before me was an illustration of the simplicity and true democracy of our government.

Tribune—I don't want to brag, but we do think that this Regiment is the most highly favored of any in the field as regards its commanding officers, Some of your readers know Col. Hathaway, and will be pleased to learn that he is fully appreciated by the soldiers of his Regiment. Kind hearted, accomplished and impartial, his command over the men is perfect, and among the thousand here in camp, gathered from every walk in life, I don’t believe there is one who would knowingly disobey the least of his orders, for we all have full confidence in his bravery and abilities as a soldier.

The Hornellsville boys are all right.—— Hospital Steward, Harris Sawyer, has start ed a Drug Store nearly as large as a Side Show, and if be only kept the dailies you could easily immagine you had stepped into the “Red Front.” The other Hospital boys are well, and strive with each other in their kind attention to the sick, and it is well understood that if a soldier enters the Hospital ever so ill, in an hour they will have him up and laughing as loud as any of them.

The nightly prayer meetings are well attended, and are increasing in interest every evening, under the guidance of our Chaplain, Rev. Thomas K. Beecher. They are held in the open air with the stars above us, and the sweetest, most natural companions of camp life, are the old familiar Hymns, sung by the soldiers, and sung from our childhood by friends at home. They have a charm here which we never felt before, and seem like whisperings of the absent ones, and the prayers, as they ascend thro’ the night air, bring before us the home circle, and the old church, and every thing that is good and manly, Tribune—it has been truly said that camp life is either the making or breaking of a man, and it is being demonstrated every day, “my boy.”— You can tell all enquiring friends that our boys are “making,” and that we are bound to be a model Regiment.

One of these days I shall try to “get to go” to Washington, and if I do I will see Denny Brannan and the rest of the boys in and out of the hospital there.

M, W. H.  hornelleville_ny_weekly_tribune_1862_10_09.jpg

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Corning (NY) Journal, October 23, 1862

Muster Roll, Co. D. 141st Regt.

We are indebted to W. L. HINDS, Orderly Sergeant, for the following Muster Roll of Capt. Fuller's Co.

Capt.—CHAS R. FULLER, Corning.
1STt. Lieut. WILLIAM MERRILL, Lindley
2d. Lt. JOSEPH G. TOWNSEND, Corning

SERGKANTS.
Warren L. Hinds, Corning
Clemmon Osman, Lawrenceville,
James H. Wepells, Corning.
Hiram C. Turrell, “
Zalmon R. Loveless,”

CORPORALS.

John R, Rathbone, Caton.
Edwin Merrell, Lindley.
Justin W. Knapp, “
John Tanner, Corning.
John Q. Adams, “
Orvis P. Smith, “
C. A. Harradon, “
M. C. W. Cunningham “

MUSICIANS.

Pulaski D. Wescott, Caton.
Elleburt Niver, ”

WAGONER.

Henry Brown, Corning.

PRIVATES.

NAMES RESIDENCES.
Burley, Charles Corning.
Cristley, Andrew “
Clark, James “
Doolittle, William “
DeCarr, Lionell F, “
Fowler, Abram L. “
Fowler, John “
Freeman, Charles H. “
Glur, Frederick “
Hunt, Timothy “
Huycks, William “
Jeffery, Thomas “
Kreemer, Jake “
Knapp, Abram, “
Lewis, Audrew “
McCalloch, Francis “
McKinney, Charles “
Millard, Miner F. “
Merritt, Andrew J. “
Moore, Lewis G. “
Pritchard, Morris “
Rose, Isaac E. “
Simmons, Andrew J. * “
Snyder, Henry M. “
Satterley, Charles “
Stewart, Samuel “
Sweitzer, Jacob “
Turrell, Cassius M. “
Thorp, Henry “
Thompson, Andrew “
Vanderworker, Cornelius “
Weldon, George W. “
Wood, Nathaniel “
Weldon, Samuel “
Weaver, Lewis “
Williams, William “
Wilson William J. “
Weeks, John “
White, Alexander H. “
Williams, Henry “
Brace, Wulliam H. Caton.
Brown, Edwin “
Cole, William “
Day, Alonzo “
Emery, Rubin “
Ellott, Elijah “
Howe Harrison, “
Howe, Francis “
Honness, Solomon H, “
Hubbard, William “
Lindsley, Levi “
Reville, Nicholas “
Striebeck, Edward “
Faggett, Nathaniel “
Thornton, Richard H. “
Wright, Peter “
Wellman, John R. “
Tobey, Preston A. “
Booth, Elijah D. Lindley. “
Countryman, Alfred Jasper.
Elliot, Israel Lindley.
Houghton, Charles “
Lindsley, George H, “
Lindsley, William A. “
Millard, Sylvestas W. “
McGillioray, Abram “
Tremain, Gilbert “
Tremain, Warren H. “
Tremain, Lyman J. “
Wales, Nelson “
Wheelter, Isaac “
Webster, Charles H. “
Reeves, James Catlin.
Russell, David Erwin.
Stevens, Darias W. + Hornby.
Stevens, George E. “
Royell, George H. Van Etten.
Taylor, Lorenzo D. Hornby.
Lewis, Edwin B. “
Woodhonse, Henry — Jacksow Pa.
Woodhouse, Zina ”

Those marked with a (*) have deserted, and those with a (+) have been drowned.

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Havana NY Journal, ca. October 24, 1862

Letters from Capt. A. J. Compton.

CAMP COMPTON.
Md., October 9th, 1862.

FRIEND LOOK:—I have had the pleasure of reading your excellent paper, which reminds me of home and its many pleasing associations, It looks like an old friend, and in eagerly sought after by the Havana boys of my Company.

I see an article, or an extract from a letter, in its columns, which I will notice. The writer says: “Our rations consist of a slice of raw pork, four hard sea biscuit and a cup of coffee; sometimes beans instead of pork.” I know not who the writer is, but should think he was a little sick of the army, and quite anxious to get home again.

The first day we arrived at Laurel Station our rations were rather limited; but as soon as our Quartermaster could possibly make arrangements to furnish the Regiment with good, wholesome food, he did so; since which time we have had good pork and beans, good corned beef, frosh beef twice a week, good potatoes, beans, rice, coffee, tea, sugar, &c. We were obliged to us hard crackers for the first week, but then have had good, soft bread. The first crackers that were given out wore some wormy, but as soon as it was known they were replaced by good ones. Our Quartermaster has left nothing undone that he could do to furnish the Regiment with the best the market afford.

While I am writing I must speak of our Colonel: He is just the man to suit the times, being a perfect gentleman, with too good knowledge of human nature ever to be unpopular with his Regiment. He lives in his tent, in Camp, and has a kind word for every soldier. The same can be said of our Lieutenant Colonel and Major. I don't think there is a Regiment in the field that think more of their field officers than the 141st N.Y. V.

For our Surgeon we have a man of ability and experience, although not advanced in years, He has passed safely through nine battles, and is ready and willing to try the tenth. His assistant is also an excellent Physician, and a gentleman, and does all he can to alleviate the sufferings of the unfortunate.

I have neglected to send you a list of the names of my Company for publication, but will do so very soon.

Yours, truly,
A. J. COMPTON.

P. S. — We are four miles from Laurel Station - or Camp Hathaway—towards Washington, doing picket duty on the rail road, and for want of a better name the boys call our Camp after their humble Captain. There are but two Companies here, of one hundred men each, and I can honestly say they all appear to be contented.
Yours, &c., A. J. C.

CAMP COMPTON,
Md., October 14th, 1862.

FRIEND LOOK:—The first death in the 141st Regiment, N. Y. V., was in my Company. Last night, about 11 o'clock my Orderly Sergeant, George P. McCoy Tyrone, breathed his last. He was a young man 20 years of age, of more than ordinary ability, and beloved by every member of the Company. He was, sociably and morally, one of the finest young men it has ever been my fortune to become acquainted with— he had been brought up by Christian parents, and had never strayed from the path of duty. His disease was very malignant case of Typhoid fever. As soon as he was pronounced dangerously ill I sent for his father, who came immediately, arriving here on Friday last. He remained by his bedside until the spirit of the loved one had taken its flight to God, who gave it. This p.m, the Company followed his remains to Camp Hathaway, Laurel Station, and placed them on the cars, in charge of his father, to be taken home. His death has cast a gloom over the whole Company, and, it is to be hoped, has left a lasting influence in the minds of many.

He was the first to be called from this Reg't, and no other one, perhaps, was more ready to meet his Maker.

Yours, truly,
A. J. COMPTON,

The remains of Orderly Sergeant McCoy arrived at the Havana Depot yesterday morning, and were taken to Tyrone, by Henry Page, of this village. Lieut. S. F. Griffeth arrived on the same train and went directly to Tyrone to attend the funeral. He expects to return to the seat of war on Tuesday next. [ED. JOURNAL

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Addison Advertiser, November 12, 1862

THE 141ST REG - We learn from a private source that the 141st Reg. (Col. Hathaway) will probably remain at Laurel, M. D., where they are now encamped, through the winter. On Monday last they commenced building their barracks for winter quarter.

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