In August 1862, the 111th New York Volunteer regiment was called to duty. Company H of this regiment, also known as Ezra Northrop's Company, was comprised of recruits from Cato, Ira, Sterling and Victory. The group predominantly consisted of farm boys with no military experience. A newspaper article from August 1862 notes that 1st Lieutenant Frank Rich from Cato thanked the citizens of Ira and Cato for assistance in raising the company and for a sword presented to him. The regiment was whisked away and traveled by rail and boat. During a march through Baltimore the regiment was commented to be “one of the finest bodies of men that had passed thru these cities since the war began.” The regiment finally arrived in Virginia at the end of August. By Sept. 14, barely having had any training, the men were engaged in one of the most well known battles of the war at Harper's Ferry and were forced to surrender to the Confederates. On this day, Horace Acker from Cato was a casualty.
Now prisoners of war, the 111th and men from other New York regiments were sent by foot and by train to Camp Douglas in Chicago to await their being exchanged for prisoners on the Confederate side. Camp Douglas was a breeding ground of disease as it was crowded with Confederate troops who were being treated for their injuries. Soldiers from the 111th were treated there for Typhoid Fever. By Nov. 26, having been traded for Confederate soldiers, the 111th was boarded on trains and sent to Virginia.
After a change in command, the 111th was placed in charge of Col. Clinton MacDougall who was a well respected veteran from Auburn. The men camped the winter in tents and used this time to do drills which would serve them well in the great battle to come. The regiment did not have ample food or winter clothing so an appeal was made by Clinton MacDougall in the local papers for donations of buckskin gloves and warm vests as “the government furnishes neither.” At this time the regiment was eating only small rations which consisted of nine or 10 hard crackers which were often infested with bugs. A letter received locally from Frank Rich in March 1863 gave thanks to the ladies of the village of Cato for a barrel of jellied, fried fruits and other items.
By June of 1863 the regiment was on the move and marched for several days with little food and rest. They now joined the rest of the “Army of the Potomac” now known as the 2nd corps under Col. Willard. About this time, Private Newman Eldred, a Cato lad, met up with his brother Joe who was in the 147th. Ironically, both survived the war despite the high death rates in both regiments.
On July 2, 1863, the first of several days of battle were at hand in Gettysburg. The men from New York were placed with their comrades of the 125th, 126th and 39th along the front lines to defend the retreating 3rd brigade who were losing ground to the confederates. Ironically, the 111th was now fighting against the same group that they fought against at Harper's Ferry which had resulted in their capture and subsequent labeling of the “Harper's Ferry Cowards.” After the 125th and 126th made their way through their first round of battle, Col. MacDougall called on the 111th to cover the right flank of the 126th. Under fire of minnie balls and bursting shells, the 111th finally had the chance to redeem themselves from their previous reputation.
During this advance on the Confederates, many of the men from the 111th were killed or wounded as were many of their commanders. The following day was to be as deadly with the 111th participating in Pickett's Charge.
Wounded soldiers from Cato at Gettysburg were John Ostrander with a severe leg wound, Mathew Hunter with a slight ankle injury and Sergeant John Lawrence with a wounded hip which he later died from. The losses from the 111th in Gettysburg were 95 in total.
By Oct. 1863, the regiment participated in the Battle of Bull Run, Va. Wounded on this day from Cato was Charles Todd who received a slight chest injury.
Charles had just been treated in a Baltimore hospital for an unknown condition and had just recently returned to the regiment.
At the battle of Spotsylvania, a May 1864 newspaper indicates that nine days of fighting were well under way and up to 15,000 prisoners and 54 guns were taken from the Confederates. Wounded this day was Theron Dudley from Meridian.
A battle near South Side Railroad March 31, 1865 resulted in Edwin Acker being shot through both hips and Capt. Reuben Myers taken prisoner. At some unknown time during the war Erskine Wolford received a head wound which did not require him to leave the war prematurely. Also, Augebest Turner died of disease in March 1863.
The 111th, having redeemed their early reputation, were now considered to be some of the most courageous soldiers and were well received in Auburn in June 1865. The regiment was so well admired by Col. MacDougall that yearly reunions were hosted by him for the survivors.
The following is a list of Cato area soldiers from Company H, 111th N.Y. Volunteer Regiment: Edward and Horace Acker, Benjamin Ackmoody, Marcus Birg, Lawrence Bulhand, John Chamberlin, George Cowell, Martin Davis, Edgar, Ira and Theron Dudley, Newman Eldred, Jacob Fay, Frank Hall, Chauncy Hickok, Matthew Hunter, George Johnson, John Lawrence, Joseph Lockwood, Reuben Myers, Ezra Northrup, George Olmstead, John Ostrander, Frank Pressley, Frank Rich, Clarence Shephard, A. G. Shepherd, Charles Todd, Augebest Turner and Erskine Wolford.
If readers have any information or the names of missing soldiers from this company, please contact the historian.
Eva Taylor Sholes is the town of Cato historian and can be reached at 834-6306 or by e-mail at evatay@localnet.com
After a change in command, the 111th was placed in charge of Col. Clinton MacDougall who was a well respected veteran from Auburn. The men camped the winter in tents and used this time to do drills which would serve them well in the great battle to come. The regiment did not have ample food or winter clothing so an appeal was made by Clinton MacDougall in the local papers for donations of buckskin gloves and warm vests as “the government furnishes neither.” At this time the regiment was eating only small rations which consisted of nine or 10 hard crackers which were often infested with bugs. A letter received locally from Frank Rich in March 1863 gave thanks to the ladies of the village of Cato for a barrel of jellied, fried fruits and other items.
By June of 1863 the regiment was on the move and marched for several days with little food and rest. They now joined the rest of the “Army of the Potomac” now known as the 2nd corps under Col. Willard. About this time, Private Newman Eldred, a Cato lad, met up with his brother Joe who was in the 147th. Ironically, both survived the war despite the high death rates in both regiments.
On July 2, 1863, the first of several days of battle were at hand in Gettysburg. The men from New York were placed with their comrades of the 125th, 126th and 39th along the front lines to defend the retreating 3rd brigade who were losing ground to the confederates. Ironically, the 111th was now fighting against the same group that they fought against at Harper's Ferry which had resulted in their capture and subsequent labeling of the “Harper's Ferry Cowards.” After the 125th and 126th made their way through their first round of battle, Col. MacDougall called on the 111th to cover the right flank of the 126th. Under fire of minnie balls and bursting shells, the 111th finally had the chance to redeem themselves from their previous reputation.
During this advance on the Confederates, many of the men from the 111th were killed or wounded as were many of their commanders. The following day was to be as deadly with the 111th participating in Pickett's Charge.
Wounded soldiers from Cato at Gettysburg were John Ostrander with a severe leg wound, Mathew Hunter with a slight ankle injury and Sergeant John Lawrence with a wounded hip which he later died from. The losses from the 111th in Gettysburg were 95 in total.
By Oct. 1863, the regiment participated in the Battle of Bull Run, Va. Wounded on this day from Cato was Charles Todd who received a slight chest injury.
Charles had just been treated in a Baltimore hospital for an unknown condition and had just recently returned to the regiment.
At the battle of Spotsylvania, a May 1864 newspaper indicates that nine days of fighting were well under way and up to 15,000 prisoners and 54 guns were taken from the Confederates. Wounded this day was Theron Dudley from Meridian.
A battle near South Side Railroad March 31, 1865 resulted in Edwin Acker being shot through both hips and Capt. Reuben Myers taken prisoner. At some unknown time during the war Erskine Wolford received a head wound which did not require him to leave the war prematurely. Also, Augebest Turner died of disease in March 1863.
The 111th, having redeemed their early reputation, were now considered to be some of the most courageous soldiers and were well received in Auburn in June 1865. The regiment was so well admired by Col. MacDougall that yearly reunions were hosted by him for the survivors.
The following is a list of Cato area soldiers from Company H, 111th N.Y. Volunteer Regiment: Edward and Horace Acker, Benjamin Ackmoody, Marcus Birg, Lawrence Bulhand, John Chamberlin, George Cowell, Martin Davis, Edgar, Ira and Theron Dudley, Newman Eldred, Jacob Fay, Frank Hall, Chauncy Hickok, Matthew Hunter, George Johnson, John Lawrence, Joseph Lockwood, Reuben Myers, Ezra Northrup, George Olmstead, John Ostrander, Frank Pressley, Frank Rich, Clarence Shephard, A. G. Shepherd, Charles Todd, Augebest Turner and Erskine Wolford.
If readers have any information or the names of missing soldiers from this company, please contact the historian.
Eva Taylor Sholes is the town of Cato historian and can be reached at 834-6306 or by e-mail at evatay@localnet.com
