122 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUiNTY, NEW YOEK. 



of Chancellorsville, adding fresh laurels to those already 

 won on the hard-contested field of Antietam. 



This regiment having fought gallantly at Antietam, and 

 left that sano:uinary field crowned with the laurels of vie- 

 tory, never harbored the thought of a possible defeat, and 

 with the same coolness and determination that marked 

 their career there, did they move upon the enemy at Chan- 

 cellorsville. On the evening of the second day. believing 

 the foe was defeated, marched out to join in capturing a 

 conquered army ; but they reckoned without their host. 

 The advance soon became a retreat, and, instead of victory, 

 it was defeat. Soon after the regiment marched out they 

 were ordered back to their position on double-quick, and 

 met the flying columns of the 11th Corps, driven before 

 the fierce onslaught of Stonewall Jackson like chaff before 

 the wind. Right gallantly did the 107th attempt to stay 

 the flight of the fleeing and stop the pursuit of the pur- 

 suin<r until the nii>ht came on, when the confusion was like 

 unto pandemonium itself. During the night the regiment 

 again formed in line of battle, and until daybreak over their 

 heads blazed the shrieking shot and shell. 



At early dawn, without time to consume the scanty pro- 

 visions that had been sent them, they entered the fight, and 

 for hours that passed like minutes struggled with the foe, until 

 the last round of ammunition was exhausted, and then, with 

 fixed bayonets, stood, as they supposed, until reinforcements 

 had come to take their place. Then in orderly march, 

 proud of their endurance, the regiment retired. The rein- 

 forcements, however, outstripped them in the retreat ; and, 

 under a murderous fire, they formed a new line near the 

 Chancellorsville House, only to be driven from it by the 

 artillery of the victorious foe. The battle of Chancellors- 

 ville was fought and lost. 



It was a bloody day for the 107th. Many a home in 

 the Twenty-seventh Congressional District was rendered 

 desolate by this day's carnage. At least one-third of the 

 force engaged was lost. Fearfully were the ranks of the 

 lOTth thinned, but not dishonored. Every survivor who 

 participated in that day's fight felt conscious of having 

 performed his duty, and thenceforward the regiment was 

 counted veteran. 



*' They never fail who die 

 In a great cause. The block may soak their gore ; 

 Their heads may sodden in the sun: their limbs 

 Be strung to city gates or castle walls; 

 But still their spirits walk abroad, though years 

 Elapse, and others share as dark a doom. 

 They but augment the deep and sweeping thoughts 

 Which overspread all others, and conduct 

 The world at last to freedom." 



From the disastrous Chancellorsville battle-ground the 

 107th marched to Stafibrd Court-House, where they went 

 into camp and remained during the month of May. While 

 here the regiment parted with their brave Col. Diven and 

 eflicient Adjutant Fanton, who resigned and returned to 

 their homes. The command of the regiment now devolved 

 upon Lieut.-Col. Colby. 



June 12 the camp presented a lively appearance, as 

 orders had been received to march at a moment's notice, 

 and on the following day, at six o'clock, the forces moved 

 northward to repel the invasion of Lee. This was the be- 

 ginning of the Gettysburg campaign. 



On the 24th of June the newly-appointed colonel, N. M. 

 Crane, joined the regiment and assumed command. July 

 1 the 107th reached Gettysburg, Pa., and prepared for the 

 deadly contest of the morrow. The morrow came, and with 

 it every indication of a terrible struggle. Everything tend- 

 ing to encumber the men was thrown aside, guns were 

 primed afresh, and a few words of encouragement and direc- 

 tion given by the gallant colonel. Then each man took 

 his place and awaited the order that should summon them 

 to the front, where the sanguinary battle of Gettysburg 

 was raging in all its fury. The regiment, however, was 

 not actively engaged, and the loss was small. 



July 5 the regiment left the Gettysburg battle-field, 

 and followed in the pursuit of the retreating enemy. On 

 the 14th, Gen. Lee, hard pressed, escaped across the 

 Potomac, closely followed by the Union army, under the 

 command of Gen. Meade. They continued their march 

 through Virginia, reaching Kelley's Ford August 1, where 

 they went into camp, and remained until September IG, 

 when the line of march was taken up to Bealton Station, 

 from whence the 107th was transported to Stevenson, Ala., 

 to reinforce the Army of the West. From October, 1868, 

 to April, 1864, the regiment — with the exception of Com- 

 panies B and K, which were sent to Shelbyville, Tenn. — 

 lay at Wartrace, Bell Buckle, and Wartrace Bridge, doing 

 guard and picket duty. 



During this time the 107th received, by transfer from the 

 disbanded 145th liegiment and by recruits, two hundred 

 and fifty men, and was enabled to completely recuperate for 

 the first time from the fatigue of its constant service since 

 entering the field. 



On the 20th of April, 1864 (the regiment then six hun- 

 dred strong), they broke camp, and then commenced Sher- 

 man's memorable march. May 15 was fought the battle 

 of Resaca, and the 107th lost two killed and seventeen 

 wounded. 



Sherman hotly pursued the retreating forces of John- 

 ston until May 25, when, coming upon his army at Dallas, 

 a sharp contest ensued, in which the 107th lost nearly two 

 hundred men. 



The following account of this battle is from the pen of 

 A. S. Fitch, of Elmira, who was a member of the regi- 

 ment : 



'' This battle of Dallas, fought mainly by one division 

 (the 1st) of the 20th Army Corps, was a desperate, earnest 

 attempt to force from their chosen position a large force of 

 the enemy closely massed and defended by almost impreg- 

 nable works. That it failed has been intimated. That it 

 was not by lack of valor or determined eft'ort on the part of 

 our soldiers, I trust I shall make apparent to all. It was 

 for a long time considered by our men a rash and terrible 

 blunder on the part of our commanding generals. Be this 

 as it may, the honest and manly Sherman, as usual, shoul- 

 ders the entire responsibility of the afi'air, by the simple an- 

 nouncement, in that part of his official report which covers 

 this engagement, ' all this was done hy my order: 



'' It was one of those unfortunate afi^airs, in which a great 

 sacrifice of precious life was made, yet nothing substantial 

 was accomplished. The fact that in one short hour this 

 que division lost pearly twelve hundred men, killed and 



