THE GENEALOGIC 
 
 AL TR EE.
 
 THE 
 
 SIXTIETH ANNIVERSARY 
 
 MARRIAGE 
 
 JOHN J. AND SARAH ANN KNOX, 
 
 OCTOBER ith, 1873. 
 
 FOR PRIVATE CIRCULATION. 
 
 NEW YORK : 
 PRINTED BY EDWARD O. JENKINS, 
 
 2O NORTH WILLIAM STREET.
 
 THE DIAMOND WEDDING. 
 
 WHETHER Diamond is the proper name or not, it was 
 diamond to us more happy than even the happy days 
 of the Golden Week ten years before. We thought that 
 nothing could surpass the Golden Wedding, but this truly 
 surpassed that as diamonds surpass gold. Both those delight- 
 ful weeks were richer and purer than anything of common 
 earth ; but if sparkle and flashes of light, and steady lustre, 
 and gentle glow, and transparent purity, and undimmed 
 value, are represented by the diamond, that was a true 
 Diamond Wedding. Even if the beloved and honored 
 pair should see the veritable seventy-fifth anniversary, 
 that joyous day could only be a larger and more brilliant, 
 but not a purer diamond. 
 
 ^ The " Circular Letter " which took its origin from the 
 happy influences of the Golden Wedding, helped not a 
 little in preparing the more elaborate week of ten years 
 later. The family were together at the Golden Wedding 
 but two days, although earlier arrivals and later departures 
 and our free participation in each other's plans made it 
 nearly a family-week ; but it was early suggested by those 
 whose hospitality would be largely increased by such a thing, 
 that we should make this a full week of domestic celebra- 
 tion and enjoyment. How to do it, and not to burden the 
 worthy bride and groom themselves with the cares of prep- 
 
 20131S7
 
 4 THE DIAMOND WEDDING. 
 
 aration and hospitality, was a problem. A score of children, 
 more than a score of living grandchildren, four great-grand- 
 children, two scores at least of beloved " collaterals " and 
 old-time friends whose presence we might naturally expect 
 the very thought of it all, might be too full of care, even to 
 that energetic and industrious woman who, at seventy-eight, 
 was supreme keeper of her own house. The "Extra Circu- 
 lar^ carefully kept from the old homestead, freighted with its 
 wise and loving suggestions, together with the large hearts, 
 willing hands, and inventive ski II of the other house, solved 
 the question. We would set up a house of our own. It should 
 be a Wedding Hall. It should stand on the croquet-ground 
 and fill its boundaries. It should be tight and comfortable, 
 day and evening. It should have its culinary department. 
 And having set up our independent establishment, we would 
 invite the bride to be the guest of our own hospitality and 
 table. The bridegroom, buoyant and alert always, we knew 
 could adapt himself to all occasions. And so the occasion 
 should begin on Friday and Saturday, the third and fourth, 
 culminate on the grand Tuesday, the seventh, and end on 
 Friday or Saturday again. 
 
 There was another preliminary question what should the 
 occasion be f How should we venture on invitations, and 
 yet not gather three or four hundred friends and acquaint- 
 ances to feast with us, and congratulate ! How should we 
 give a public invitation to come to the church, and yet avoid 
 a stately and stiff affair ! The " Extra Circular " helped 
 the solution again. We would, with help of piano and 
 organ, and " Auld Lang Syne," and " Home, Sweet Home," 
 breathe into the exercises at the church a social glow, and
 
 THE DIAMOND WEDDING. 5 
 
 give a general public invitation to all who might be disposed 
 to come. Then we would have a grand family feast in the 
 afternoon, with such old-time friends from out of town as 
 could be informally pressed in from the church. 
 
 With these preliminaries settled, and all other details 
 entrusted to wise persons, the Circular of September sped 
 on its course, while the Wedding Hall lifted up its ample 
 proportions on the Croquet-ground. 
 
 To make up for absence before, the St. Paul family 
 arrived first, and gave the people of the "other house" a 
 genuine surprise early on Friday morning. The New York 
 and Albany daughters had indeed already come by appoint- 
 ment two or three days before, to be the hostesses and 
 keepers at the Hall. Then came she, who in a frolic, years 
 ago, said "Now for a husband ! " and with her the identical 
 man himself whom she then found at the end of that chaise- 
 ride bringing also with them a stately matron who had 
 been helper in the. old house in her girlhood. Close upon 
 them came the Bloomh'eld flock, with " Andrew's son " as a 
 -driver from Clinton, and with a sick baby, who came only 
 by permission of the doctor ; then the two boys, a senior and a 
 junior, from College Hill, and then at tea-time, the Ehnira 
 bishop, with Ehnira and Albany grandchildren. The four 
 tables were already set in Diamond shape in the llall, the 
 reliable " help " of ten years was already installed in the 
 kitchen, and that domestic arrangment " simply splendid !" 
 and " simply perfect ! " prepared by the sister-at-home and 
 sister-of-thc-other-house, and handsomely inaugurated by the 
 sisters-arrived, was admired and commended by thirty-two
 
 6 THE DIAMOND WEDDING. 
 
 persons at the opening " tea." A stirring story of escape from 
 accident was told later in the evening, by the one who had 
 absented himself from the table to bring the " Philadelphia 
 cousin " from the railroad ; but the cousin did not come 
 that night after all. The one hundred and third psalm, and 
 a prayer of thanksgiving in the familiar household voice, 
 inaugurated the morning and evening devotions of our 
 festive dwelling. Talk and news from those still on their 
 way filled full the evening. Pains were taken that no 
 " chicks " that would crow by night or day should go to the 
 old house. And everywhere, everybody found that his 
 place for the night was the most comfortable and the "best 
 of all ;" a true genius for packing away families into 
 ample apartments, having seized the housekeepers of the two 
 houses. 
 
 The tables were a lively place the next morning at the 
 appointed hour. The fourteenth psalm followed, and the 
 singing of the second Golden Wedding Hymn, 
 
 " In childhood's happy days, 
 
 Within this place of prayer, 
 We poured our cheerful song of praise, 
 
 And cast on God our care." 
 
 The brother who led the devotions recognizing his provi- 
 dential preservation from accident the evening before. 
 u Notice time " was established to be daily, directly after 
 morning prayers, and two granddaughters were assigned 
 the direction of the family comforts for the day. Consulta- 
 tions took place here ; family news was discussed there ; 
 grandchildren ran to the store, or explored the gardens and 
 grounds for grapes and fruits ; details in comfort and adorn-
 
 THE DIAMOND WEDDING. 7 
 
 merit of the Hall were looked after ; antiquities spied out and 
 posted for inspection ; carriage and good man despatched 
 again for the a Philadelphia cousin ; " arrangements made 
 for afternoon arrivals by train ; great secrets whispered ; 
 and all the high notes and low notes of little and large 
 people filled the houses and old haunts. 
 
 The dinner-hour and the cousin from Philadelphia came 
 together at one o'clock. There was a good appetite for 
 both and a most cordial reception of the new guest. Then 
 went up a new swing a Vernon boat-swing in the front 
 trees of the yard, and shortly after came a dominie's wife 
 and " Kob " on a hay-rack from over the western hills, who, 
 having missed connection, declined to finish their journey 
 in any ordinary conveyance. The little ones went sky-high 
 in the swing, and all but the little ones went soon on a 
 jolly and jolting ride, and soon too came home shouting with 
 a load of greens for trimming. 
 
 After the tea and the evening devotions, led by the next 
 brother, the decoration of the Hall went merrily on. Then 
 came the Oswego load from the western train, and later 
 still the Washington people, guided over the carriage road 
 from Utica by the young Utica lawyer. Much lamenta- 
 tion was made that little Bessie had been left behind, but 
 little Carrie, with her winsome ways and sweet songs, soon 
 found a place in every heart, cared for, as she was, by her 
 good nurse, " Aunt Dorsey." Late in the night mysterious 
 knockings disturbed the slumbers of the other house, until 
 at last a New Jersey parson was discovered locked in the 
 attic by mistake, where he had extemporized an antiquarian 
 and literary shop of family letters, books, and documents,
 
 8 THE DIAMOND WEDDING. 
 
 out of which he was plotting reminiscences for future 
 use. 
 
 Sunday came cool and bright, a day of sacred associations 
 in the old house, bringing its memories and conversations 
 of the old church, the line of good pastors, the recent 
 division of the old congregation into two parts, the attract- 
 ive renovation of the edifice at " the centre," the taste- 
 ful new edifice at the 'Boro, the enterprise and prosperity 
 of the Methodist people, the decease of sainted members, 
 and the arrangement for participation in the services of the 
 day. The morning prayers, with Deuteronomy vi. for the 
 Scripture, and a Sabbath hymn, were conducted by the 
 youngest son. The two ministers of the family responded 
 to the invitations of the pastors in charge, and preached in 
 the two churches the youngest in the morning at the 
 church where all, for so many years, had heard the faithful 
 preaching, and the older at the new church, presenting a 
 " household picture " from the text at Psalm cxxviii. 6 : 
 " Yea, thou shalt see thy children's children and peace upon 
 Israel." The Kev. Franklin A. Spencer assisted in the 
 services, who himself a Sabbath after made pleasing al- 
 lusion to the family festival. The St. Paul elder made an 
 address to the Sunday-school, a school composed of all ages, 
 from Sarah Knox of seventy-eight to a Sarah Knox of six. 
 Invitations to the public exercises of the following Tuesday 
 were given at all the churches. In the afternoon at four 
 o'clock the older minister preached in the old church, now 
 so transformed into modern style as scarcely to be recog- 
 nized. Cousin Kitty read u Both Sides of the Street," an 
 eager boy's own selection from the Sunday-school library,
 
 THE DIAMOND WEDDIXG. 9 
 
 to a group who followed her from orchard to house-steps, 
 and from house-steps to the hall. The Sunday-school melo- 
 deon appeared also in the Hall, and at five o'clock began a 
 good hour of Sunday singing, ending in a good, wholesome, 
 fatherly talk on the importance of the Sabbath, and followed 
 by conversation on the subject, and the evening prayer by 
 the older minister. At the evening service in the new church, 
 the sermon on "Ko continuing city " was preached by the 
 younger minister from Hebrews xiii. 14, and showed that 
 household thoughts of the heavenly city make the earthly 
 home bright and attractive. The Rev. Willis Gaylord, 
 grandson of the clergyman who performed the ceremony at 
 the original wedding, took part in the services. The new 
 organ that day, for the first time, had assisted the worship. 
 The blessed power of cheerful Sabbath observances per- 
 vaded the closing hours of that .good day. 
 
 Rain and showers gave variety on Monday. After the 
 breakfast and family devotions, flags, banners, photographs, 
 evergreens and autumn leaves in diamond monograms, 
 were added to the decorations. Quiet visiting talks held 
 their way also at the stove-side or in either house. In the 
 midst of the buzz and tack-hammering the door opened and 
 in walked the Washington boy. Eight arms went up and out 
 and around him in one grand infoliate squeeze from the four 
 brothers amid a shout and laugh which echoed through the 
 'Boro, while somebody struck up in comic style : " We're 
 a band of brothers.'' 
 
 Dinner was exhilarating, and there was no end except at 
 the end of the drollery fired from table to table. Decora-
 
 10 THE DIAMOND WEDDING. 
 
 tions and preparations were in progress, too, during the 
 afternoon at the church in vines, leaves, and flowers in 
 monogram. One of mother's favorites, " Glory to Thee, my 
 God, this night," was sung at evening prayers. The Albany 
 merchant, the Troy grandchildren, with two great-grand- 
 children came through the cool light rain from the evening 
 train, and with them one whose name had been announced 
 among those of the distinguished artists to assist at the 
 grand organ concert on Wednesday evening. The hand- 
 bills had already been distributed far and wide, assuring the 
 musical public that " a combination of musical talent of so 
 superior a character," furnished an " opportunity not here- 
 tofore enjoyed in this vicinity, and one not to be experienced 
 again," " the avails of the entertainment to be devoted to 
 the organ fund of the church." 
 
 The music practice, therefore, went on during the same 
 evening at the church. One grandchild remembers dis- 
 tinctly that he blew the organ, and that " Auntie played 
 six loud pieces" until he was almost " blowed " him- 
 self. 
 
 The great day Tuesday dawned cheerful. There was 
 snow on " the Madison Hills," on which rested the sun dur- 
 ing the morning, renewing a sight familiar to all in childhood. 
 The hives poured out their swarms for breakfast. The nine 
 children were all present, the children-iri-law with them, 
 twenty-one grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, and 
 good friends besides, and all sat down in high spirits and ex- 
 pectation. The greetings and the buzz gave way at length 
 to songs. Merry grandchildren and sympathetic children
 
 THE DIAMOND WEDDING. 11 
 
 rendered with lively enthusiasm the grandchildren's after- 
 breakfast song at the Golden wedding : 
 
 " We've come to the good old homestead 
 Where live the good old folks," etc. 
 
 with its chorus : 
 
 " Then come to the wedding,'" etc. 
 
 Then followed " Delightful Knoxboro " with all the varia- 
 tions of that decidedly picturesque and voluminous and 
 many - sourced song. * When this exhilaration quieted 
 down for family devotions, each person had come with a 
 Scripture verse appropriate to the day, and pleasant were 
 the adaptations to the occasion and to those who were the 
 
 * For fear this valuable and unique production may be lost, and 
 future generations of the family may not have the profit of its lively 
 inspiration, the verses are here preserved. It sprung up spontaneous- 
 ly after a celebrated picnic occasion, when the glen and its waterfall had 
 had a visit. Some of the ladies had a chase by animals bellowing or 
 about to bellow, and furious or about to become furious, as was sup- 
 posed ; hence the alarm expressed in one of the stanzas. Additions 
 of verses, here and there, came afterwards into the stream of verse 
 thus set aflow, like the swift, trickling rills which run to make the 
 glen brook. As this volume is to circulate only within the limits of 
 this honest family, we have no solicitude that the copyright will be 
 stolen. 
 
 DELIGHTFUL KNOXBORO. 
 
 AIR. ' 'Benny Havens, ! " 
 There is a ville no bright and fair, 
 
 Its name you all must know ; 
 The scene around is bold and rare, 
 Delightful Knoxboro. 
 
 CHORUS. 
 
 The ville of Knoxboro, 
 
 The ville of Knoxboro, 
 
 It is a place that can't be beat, 
 
 This ville of Knoxboro.
 
 12 THE DIAMOND WEDDING. 
 
 occa&ion of the occasion. The second Golden Wedding 
 hymn was sung. After the prayer, stepped forth the Oswego 
 lawyer, whose marked characteristics are compression of 
 speech, and compression of penmanship, and compact good 
 sense, and in tit and gracious words, made the presentation 
 of the wedding gift. He was answered by one of the honor- 
 able pair, who, in words as quick and fit as his own, with 
 mother wit responded, that her children must have a dif- 
 ferent Bible from her own, as she had been accustomed to 
 read, " that the children ought not to lay up for the parents, 
 but the parents for the children." This wedding gift was 
 simply the enlargement of the parental sleeping- room in the 
 old mansion, with appropriate furniture, adornments, em- 
 broideries, mottoss, etc., furnished in detail by many loving 
 
 Invited there in Summer time 
 
 We willing are to go ; 
 Though many hills we have to climb, 
 
 To airy Knoxboro ! CHORUS. 
 
 The dear old Homestead stil! is there 
 
 As fifty years ago ; 
 With open doors and ample fare, 
 
 Ancestral Knoxboro ! CHORUS. 
 
 Our hearts to measures soft do chime, 
 
 Our pulses are not slow ; 
 Our words, how easily they rhyme, 
 
 In tuneful Knoxboro ! CHORUS. 
 
 We take croquet and morning air, 
 
 Out on the green plateau ; 
 The boys are true, the girls are fair, 
 
 In sportive Knoxboro ! CHORUS. 
 
 And then the song and serenade, 
 
 Flute, cornet, piano, 
 Melodious the evening made, 
 
 In gleeful Knoxboro ! CHORUS. 
 
 One day we went adown the glen, 
 Where waterfalls do flow ;
 
 THE DIAMOND WEDDING. 13 
 
 hands of children and grandchildren and great-grandchil- 
 dren, and suited to the dignity and worth of those honored, 
 and designed for the comfort and enjoyment of their old 
 age, so that by day and night, in life or in death, their eyes 
 might rest on the tokens of their children's affection and 
 esteem : a gift more pleasing to those who received and to 
 those who gave it, than all gold and diamonds. During 
 the happy thoughts which bubbled in speech and look and 
 talk, the New York grandson, last of all, arrived, and friends 
 from out of town and town acquaintance were gathering at 
 the church. The pulpit-front had its suitable floral mono- 
 gram in initials and dates ; the piano, at the pulpit, stood 
 ready to respond to the organ in the loft. The bride and 
 bridegroom were conducted by their sons to their seats of 
 
 What dreadful beasts assailed us then, 
 In thrilling Knoxboro ! CUOKUS. 
 
 A picnic grand we did essay, 
 
 While loud the horn did blow 
 For dinne:, tea, and "I spy " play, 
 
 In rural Knoxboro ! CHORUS. 
 
 The factories, cheese and hardware, 
 
 And ball-match were on show ; 
 So varied the amusements are 
 
 In lively Knoxboro ! CHORUS. 
 
 And oh ! the drives and horseback rides, 
 
 The country to and fro ; 
 What place affords the like besides 
 
 Picturesque Knoxboro ! CHORUS. 
 
 But time, alas ! doth all things end, 
 
 Which are enjoyed below ; 
 The weeks are gone, or ere we ken'd, 
 
 In charming Knoxboro ! CHORUS. 
 
 We pause one grateful song to raise, 
 
 Before we hence can go : 
 A song in fervent, heartfelt praise, 
 
 Of glorious Knoxboro ! CHORUS.
 
 14 THE DIAMOND WEDDING. 
 
 honor, at the head of the aisle, and the family followed, as 
 the organ beneath the fingers of a daughter, filled the air 
 with Mendelssohn's Wedding March and variations of Auld 
 Lang Syne. At ]ength the variations modulated into a 
 transition, when the piano, beneath the fingers of daughter 
 and granddaughter, caught up the strain, and then the 
 voices of the family broke out in harmony, 
 
 " Shall old acquaintance be forgot 
 And never brought to mind," etc. 
 
 " Our parents toiled about these hills 
 
 And built the mansion fine ; 
 They children reared, with mony a care, 
 In auld lang syne," etc. 
 
 At the conclusion of this song, "Brother James" an- 
 nounced that the character of these exercises was intended 
 to be quite domestic and social, and as if among ourselves, 
 and that " Brother John " would preside. Brother John 
 invited the Rev. Franklin A. Spencer, acting-pastor of the 
 church, to offer prayer, after which the assembly were in- 
 vited to join the family in a hymn, already distributed by 
 two grandchildren. 
 
 THE THANKSGIVING HYMN. 
 
 BY C. E. K. 
 
 O Father of the Heavenly Home, 
 
 To Thee with gratitude we come ; 
 
 Thy house the place where we would raise 
 
 For years of blessing, joyful praise. 
 
 The earthly home is Thy design, 
 To teach by love the love divine ; 
 By guided steps to old age trod, 
 To lead the children up to God.
 
 THE CHURCH.
 
 16 THE DIAMOND WEDDING. 
 
 These three-score years, our parents, Thou 
 With gracious favor didst endow ; 
 We children, and our children, bless 
 Thy covenant love and faithfulness. 
 
 For life prolonged and house preserved, 
 For discipline which has not swerved. 
 For tested love through smiles and tears, 
 We thank Thee, Guardian of these years. 
 
 For Scripture-truth and daily prayer, 
 For reverent Sabbaths, pious care, 
 For value set on life in Thee, 
 Praise to their great Instructor be ! 
 
 For generations one by one, 
 To hand these blessings onward down 
 From wide-spread homes, met here this day, 
 Our praise shall be to Thee alway. 
 
 We enter now through Zion's gates 
 Thy dwelling, where Thy glory waits 
 Light Thou our dwellings from this place, 
 Shine through this home-life with Thy grace. 
 
 The leader of the exercises then made an introductory 
 address. 
 
 INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS. 
 
 BY JOHN JAY KNOX. 
 
 It seems but yesterday when we were boys and girls with 
 many of you attending the district school, crossing the fields 
 to the academy, and gathering weekly in yonder church. 
 It was but yesterday that you and I as boys \vere sliding 
 down the Brewery hill, fishing and bathing in the brook, 
 picking apples in the orchard, strawberries in the meadows, 
 and blackberries in the ravines, gathering the beachnnt and 
 the butternut in the wood, and tasting the sap and the 
 sweetest of sugars from the bountiful and beautiful maple,
 
 THE DIAMOND WEDDING. 17 
 
 which has to-day welcomed us back to these hills, attired in 
 its royal garments of green and gold. We went away from 
 the homestead, and our experience, though different in kind, 
 has not been dissimilar from that of other groups of chil- 
 dren who have gone out from their homes to seek their for- 
 tune. A favorite and beloved sister has gone to a better world. 
 The rest of us have had each our varied experience ; our skies 
 have sometimes been clear and beautiful ; at other times 
 overclouded. We have passed through storms and darkness ; 
 we have enjoyed the sunshine and the flowers, and been 
 blessed with the love and society of little children. We 
 mourn over no disasters and disappointments; we boast 
 of no achievements ; but on thic the happiest and most 
 joyous occasion of our lives, we come from the Missis- 
 sippi, from Ontario, from the Susquehanna, from the Hud- 
 son, and the Potomac, to mingle our congratulations with 
 our kindred and our old neighbors and friends. If we 
 return honest men, it is owing in part that we were born at 
 the homestead, that we breathed the pure atmosphere of 
 the Augusta hills, that we associated in our boyhood with 
 the honest men and women who dwell in these pleasant 
 places ; but chiefly that from our infancy we were blessed 
 with the religious instruction, the counsel and admonition 
 of a kind, devoted, just, and generous father and mother, 
 the anniversary of whose sixtieth wedding day we have 
 now met to celebrate. 
 
 The occasion is not intended to be stiff and stately, but 
 informal and hospitable, and we cordially invite you all to 
 enter into these exercises with the spirit and simplicity that 
 
 becomes the occasion. 
 2
 
 18 THE DIAMOND WEDDING. 
 
 The presiding speaker then announced that the genera- 
 tion of our father and mother, and the ancient ancestry 
 of the family were to have been represented by " Uncle 
 James," who was, however, on the sea, having taken the 
 steamer from Germany on October first, and, of course, una- 
 ble to be present on this occasion. His place would be sup- 
 plied by "Brother William." A family coat -of -arms, a 
 heraldric history of the Knox clan, the original first account- 
 book of "the store '' when the young merchant began, and 
 the new genealogical tree, furnished him a variety of mate- 
 rials with which, in becoming gravity to illustrate his sub- 
 ject with Knox Ehodes on the platform to help him ex- 
 hibit. 
 
 THE GENERATION OF FATHER AND MOTHER, TOGETHER 
 WITH THE ANCIENT ANCESTRY. 
 
 BY KEV. WILLIAM E. KNOX.* 
 
 It was often said at the Golden Wedding in 1863, that 
 the occasion was such as we could not expect to see again. 
 To the human eye it was improbable. At that gathering 
 there were present eight of the ten children ; nineteen of 
 the tvrenty-one grandchildren in all, twenty-nine of a fam- 
 ily whose surviving and deceased members numbered forty. 
 It was enough to have enjoyed that auspicious festival : we 
 did not care to look into the distance beyond. To-day, that 
 then distant future is with us, through what favor of Divine 
 
 * The most persistent endeavor has not been successful in gaining 
 a verbatim copy of this address. The author we know is not accus- 
 tomed either to public speech, or to the use of the pen : we are 
 obliged therefore to be content with a substitute only.
 
 THE DIAMOND WEDDING. 19 
 
 Providence 1 This is the Diamond Wedding, and it shines 
 to our eyes with a lustrous beauty worthy its name. Most 
 unexpectedly we are here in fuller numbers of the elder 
 members of the family than at the Golden festival. First 
 of nil, our dear honored parents are spared to us with health 
 and strength unusual to their octogenarian years. Nine, 
 instead of eight of their ten children are present, bringing 
 twenty-one grandchildren and two great-grandchildren in 
 place of the nineteen of 1863. Our total numbers during 
 the week wherein we have made the w 7 alls of the old home- 
 stead ring with gladness, are forty-four of a family whose 
 living and deceased members are sixty-two. 
 
 Memorable day indeed ! The first thought is of God's 
 abounding mercy, permitting us in such full numbers to 
 behold it. The prophecy of three thousand years ago is ful- 
 filled anew in our history : " One generation shall praise thy 
 name to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts. The 
 living, the living shall praise Thee as we do this day; the 
 father to the children shall make known Thy truth." 
 
 I am to speak a few introductory words in the place of 
 an honored relative we had hoped to have in our company 
 to-day, but who is detained on a foreign shore longer than 
 he expected. If he may chance to be now on his ocean voy- 
 age, he will probably arrive too late for even the conclud- 
 ing hours of our festival week. He would have carried us 
 back to the scenes of his childhood, the youth of our 
 parents, if not to the times of an ancestry of whom it is 
 permitted most of us to know only by report. As it is, I 
 can only do the best with such materials as I chance to have 
 in hand.
 
 20 THE DIAMOND WEDDING. 
 
 The speaker here proceeded to exhibit an heraldric 
 document, more pretentious and nattering than positively 
 authentic, but which helped to amuse the imagination of 
 the younger folk present, with the extraordinary and some- 
 times very ordinary names emblazoned on the family es- 
 cutcheon. He began to read the first sentence, " This fam- 
 ily derives its descent from Adam " and, after the laugh 
 came in, finished " son of Utrecht," etc. Kings, knights, 
 noblemen, and men not very noble in name or deed might 
 be found by searching carefully for them. The exhibitor did 
 not know out of what heraldric college this valuable parch- 
 ment had graduated ; but as it was afforded to all growing 
 families at a moderate fee, he himself did not regret the 
 insignificant surn (which may have been five hundred dol- 
 lars, orfive dollars,) that some ambitious sprig of the Knox 
 family had paid for it. 
 
 The yellow-complexioned original first account-book, that 
 bore on its face unmistakable evidence of age, was then 
 opened. It had been exhumed from the archives in the 
 store-loft, as a significant witness to the day of small things, 
 not to be despised, out of which the greater things that 
 were to come had issued. It bore testimony, too, to the 
 altered fashion of a later store-keeping, which dealt more 
 exclusively in dry-goods and groceries, and less in certain 
 creature-comforts, that in the end, with the aid of Dr. Ly- 
 man Beecher's " six sermons " made the merchant's con- 
 science too uncomfortable to enjoy the profit of their sale. 
 It was noticeable, however, that one customer in this de- 
 partment had lived to the age of one hundred and one 
 years, an incident which our zealous temperance speaker
 
 THE DIAMOND WEDDING. 21 
 
 turned into an occasion of warning to the young people pres- 
 ent : " Since nobody could have told how much longer he 
 might have lived, on a different diet." A few words were 
 here interposed on the early date of the Temperance Reform 
 in this locality; and which, beginning at the counter of the 
 young merchant, had extended its benign influence over the 
 entire neighborhood. 
 
 The reverend brother next brought forward a splendid 
 genealogical tree, prepared for the occasion by one of the 
 sisters (Mrs. Anderson), and whose fine proportions riveted 
 all admiring eyes. There was no mistake in this case about 
 the " three brothers who came over in a ship,' 1 for there was 
 a drawing of the ship lying off shore over against the tree. 
 There was the tree dividing at a suitable distance from the 
 root into three shapely and fruitful arms, with the names of 
 John, James and Joseph inscribed upon them. There w ? as 
 the date when that goodly tree was transplanted from Scotch- 
 Irish to American soil ; and from those arms there was 
 spread out on every side, in most comely and copious pro- 
 portions, the branches, sub-branches, shoots, leaves, buds, 
 and golden fruit. Three hundred names had been counted 
 on the tree by some of the younger arithmeticians, who had 
 noted that spaces were left for others not yet authentically 
 collated. Not the tenderest bud of promise in the " original 
 brother " James branch of the tree but could be found 
 there; the only wish was that the John and Joseph 
 branches had as complete a registry. But one representa- 
 tive from that side of the tree was present,' Mrs. Eliza 
 Williams, of Philadelphia. The speaker made brief refer- 
 ence to the historical events of the times in which the ge-
 
 22 THE DIAMOND V/ ED DING. 
 
 nealogical tree was planted, and the later ones belonging to 
 the appearance of those offshoots whose diamond anniver- 
 sary we were eel ebra ting. 
 
 Many affecting and amusing incidents were related in the 
 early history civil, social, and religious of Augusta and 
 Knoxboro ; interesting not only to the family circle here as- 
 sembled, but to the goodly company of neighbors, towns- 
 folk, and citizens of adjacent communities who were 
 present as welcome guests. 
 
 Never was the good old song " John Anderson, my Jo," 
 more appropriate than in response to this address, and we 
 are sure that Burns himself would have said that it was 
 exquisitely rendered. 
 
 The next announcement was " The generation of the chil- 
 dren, and their congratulations will be represented by brother 
 Henry." 
 
 Advancing and taking his father and mother each by the 
 hand, he said : 
 
 THE CHILDREN AND THEIR CONGRATULATIONS. 
 BY HENRY M. KNOX. 
 
 BELOVED PAREISTS : It has been arranged that my voice 
 and hands should bring you the greetings and congratulations 
 of your children on this happy day. It is the greater pleasure 
 from the fact that the occasion of the Golden Wedding was 
 denied both me and mine. Though meeting now ten years 
 later, you have the great gratification of seeing together the 
 faces of all your living children, nine in number, and also those 
 of our wives and husbands, adding eight more to the gene- 
 ration of the children. One of our number since that bright
 
 THE DIAMOND WEDDING. v3 
 
 Golden Wedding day lias gone to that land where there are 
 no partings. Whose loss among us could be felt so much as 
 hers, as who of us was so well fitted to enjoy so rare an oc- 
 casion as this ! " But the Master has come into the garden 
 and though the fairest of all the lilies be His choice, who of 
 us shall say, ' Thou shalt not take it?" 
 
 One we have welcomed into our circle, and need not say 
 to you that in all these rejoicings her heart beats with the 
 children's hearts. 
 
 We come as preachers, lawyers, merchants, bankers, offi- 
 cers of the law, and (what is as great) keepers of the law, 
 and outside our chosen spheres, teachers in various grades, 
 and builders and bolsterers of whatever we deem to be good 
 in Church and State. We have no doctors among us, as in 
 the old family mansion we have seldom seen them except 
 as honored guests, and we hope to be able with you to owe 
 them nothing but continued honor arid good-will. 
 
 In all our professions and callings we find nothing in 
 which we take more pride ourselves than in being your 
 children. Whatever there is of good in us, we trace to the 
 quiet, genial influences of our early home. And it is not 
 now the rules and theories of your teaching which we re- 
 member (for the rules were few and simple, and the theories 
 you may yourselves be unable to define), but the example 
 set before us in your daily lives. No method of teaching 
 children has been discovered so potent as that which appeals 
 to the eye of the young, and this object-teaching is that 
 which even now in all our homes, pictures your forms as they 
 daily appeared to us in all our early lives, as industrious, 
 temperate, frugal, just, and law abiding, as drawing all
 
 24 THE DIAMOND WEDDING. 
 
 your maxims from the family Bible, and by family worship 
 and Sabbath observance exalting the Scriptures ever as the 
 very basis and corner-stone of your household. 
 
 Some of us have confessed to each other in view of these 
 " Diamond Wedding days," that thoughts of sadness would 
 seem more fittingly predominant, as we must be continually 
 reminded that such another family occasion can hardly 
 be again looked for; but having again seen your faces, 
 bright and radiant with intelligence and keen appreciation, 
 and having marked your elastic steps, we have courage yet 
 further to postpone the time when even this shall be impos- 
 sible, or even if reluctantly granting to ourselves that such 
 another week may not again occur, sharing in your abiding 
 and inspiring faith, we may enjoy the present without an 
 alloy of pain, and look in the face of the future without fore- 
 bodings, since we assure ourselves by your Christian assur- 
 ance that the brightness of these gatherings, which are but 
 for the moment, shall be followed by the brightness of the 
 celestial gathering. There, let us hope and pray, the un- 
 divided and indivisible family will meet in the Father's 
 House, to go no more out forever. 
 
 We congratulate you, then, dear parents, upon the united 
 presence of your children here to-day, upon their undivid- 
 ed and undying affection, upon the esteem and honor in 
 which you have made it impossible for us not to hold you, 
 and for the successful impression of those virtues which 
 you hold in highest esteem upon the generation of the chil- 
 dren. 
 
 We congratulate you upon the fact that your closing days 
 are to be spent in the house that has sheltered you through
 
 THE DIAMOND WEDDING. 25 
 
 almost all your married life, in which all your ten children 
 (save one) were born, and of which the remarkable words 
 spoken at the Golden Wedding are still true, " There have 
 been many happy meetings and greetings in the old home- 
 stead, many songs of praise and voices of prayer uplifted, 
 ~but never yet, during these fifty (now sixty} years, a death 
 or funeral of any child or relative ! "* And brother Will, 
 in this connection but quoted the thought of your hearts as 
 well as our own, when he added, " Not unto us, O Lord, 
 not unto us, but unto Thy name give praise for Thy mercy, 
 and for Thy truth's sake." And doubtless the prophet had 
 as well in mind the reward of the righteous in this world as 
 their blessedness beyond, when he said, " They shall not 
 build, and another inhabit ; they shall not plant, and another 
 eat : for as the days of a tree are the days of my people ; 
 and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands." 
 
 We congratulate you upon the continued esteem and 
 good-will of your neighbors and friends. Many of these, 
 your brothers and sisters after the flesh, the pastor of your 
 love and reverence for many years, those intimately asso- 
 ciated with you in business and social ties, those with 
 whom you took sweet counsel, and walked unto the house 
 of God in company, are not here to-day, and will mingle 
 no more in these fleeting scenes of earth ; but many yet re- 
 main, and show by their presence and by their friendly 
 messages, that you are surrounded by a circle, devoted and 
 loving, who hold you in perpetual honor, and whose fidelity 
 may be relied upon as a boon and blessing in your declin- 
 ing years. 
 
 * Nor, it might have been added, of any person.
 
 26 THE DIAMOND WEDDING. 
 
 That you should have so lived in one community for over 
 a half century as to preserve the esteem and confidence of 
 this large circle of friends, that we, as children, visiting as 
 occasion offers, this hoine of our childhood, and looking in 
 the faces of those who have been witnesses of your daily 
 lives, should read, not of jealous or distrustful thoughts, but 
 of kindly interest and affectionate esteem, this we count as 
 a blessing vouchsafed us by a good Providence, not only as 
 one of our greatest comforts, but a solace of your declining 
 _years. Thanks to them, one and all, for their every deed, 
 and look, and thought of kindness. The children's bene- 
 diction goes out to them ever, with your prayers. 
 
 "We congratulate you that you may see so much of your 
 completed work. Not to many is it given with unclouded rea- 
 son and unstinted powers to see so plainly the fruits of their 
 labors. And though much of your influence is yet to ripen, 
 and unfold, and re-sow itself in many and unexpected fields, 
 your eyes are gladdened by the sight of many cherished 
 schemes accomplished. Interests educational, political, re- 
 ligious, sacred to you, to which you have put your hands 
 and given your voice, have prospered. And now that you 
 are laying them down, your children grown to maturity and 
 the vigor of manhood and womanhood, are caring for and 
 furthering them, loving to think that you, in needed and 
 well-earned repose, may be gladdened by the sight. And 
 we, too, are reminded by the laughing voices and tramping 
 feet of other generations of your descendants that those will 
 not be wanting to watch over and perpetuate your work. 
 
 Let your hearts be assured by the many things accom- 
 plished that the world has been bettered by your lives.
 
 THE DIAMOND WEDDIXG. 27 
 
 May the blissful repose which sleeps upon this peaceful 
 valley and these beautiful hills for many days yet be yours, 
 and when your day and hour may come to leave this 
 earthly home, may a glory surpassing that which the linger- 
 ing rays of sunlight impart to these autumn-tinted slopes 
 light you to the " Saints' Everlasting Kest." 
 
 At the Golden Wedding the youngest grandchild received 
 the sacred rite of Christian baptism, giving honor to the 
 rite as an institution of the family as well as an ordinance 
 of the church. The same parents had the pleasure again of 
 presenting the youngest grandchild for the same sacred ordi- 
 nance. 
 
 The rite was administered by the two sons the Rev. 
 "William E. Knox offering the introductory prayer and ad- 
 ministering the sign and seal to 
 
 " HELEN THEODOSIA, thou gift of God" 
 
 and the father, the Rev. Charles E. Knox, offering the con- 
 cluding prayer. The dear little child had been sick, and 
 only by abundant care had been able to brave the exposure, 
 but has since shown abundant vigor and health, as if she 
 caught life and buoyancy from the occasion. 
 
 " The generation of the grandchildren and their congratu- 
 lations will now be represented by one of their number, one 
 of two who have completed their college course."
 
 28 THE DIAMOND WEDDING. 
 
 THE GRANDCHILDREN AND THEIR CONGRATULATIONS. 
 BY BENJAMIN KHODE8. 
 
 MY DEAR GBANDPAKENTS : It is ray privilege, on behalf 
 of jour grandchildren, to offer our congratulations on this six- 
 tieth anniversary of your marriage. We congratulate you on 
 your long and happy lives, so long and so full of happiness 
 as fall to the lot of few in this world. We congratulate you 
 on the continued, increasing, and well-merited prosperity 
 which has always attended you. We congratulate you on 
 your numerous family of children, grandchildren, and great- 
 grandchildren, which have been born an honor and a bless- 
 ing to you. Above all, we congratulate you on the good 
 name and Christian influence left behind in your path 
 through life. 
 
 That it is a pleasure to us to meet with you to-day, it is 
 needless to say. Many are the visits we have made to 
 the good old homestead, and as many are the pleasant 
 recollections connected with it, now vividly recalled. Noth- 
 ing but kindness has ever met us here. The good people of 
 the town, better known to our parents than ourselves, have 
 always received us with cordiality, and many are the friends 
 we are glad to count among them. There is scarcely a 
 spot in all the surrounding country but has some association 
 connected with it dear to some of us. The homestead itself 
 and the " other house," each with its stock of goodies ; the 
 store ; the barns and horses ; the orchards and gardens ; the 
 fields and woods, with romantic rambles ; the grand old hills 
 with long rides in summer and long slides in winter ; the 
 brooks, with hunting and fishing ; the falls, with picnic
 
 THE DIAMOND WEDDING. 29 
 
 memories, the " rocky lot" and the " caves," wonders of our 
 youth, all have helped to make this the jolliest of all places 
 to us. 
 
 "We note a few changes in the quiet village during the 
 ten years since our celebration of the Golden Wedding day. 
 An air of prosperity marks all its surroundings. Two 
 beautiful new churches, of which any village might be proud, 
 have been erected, and their spires point out to all the 
 country round, the hitherto almost invisible hamlet. Two 
 railroads, one on either side, make connection with the rest 
 of the world not quite as difficult, at least when the snow is 
 not too plentiful. 
 
 But in our own ranks, as grandchildren, we note greater 
 changes still. Ten years ago we numbered twenty-one, now 
 we can count twenty-five, all of whom are here except the 
 oldest and the next to the youngest. At that time, but one 
 had attained to manhood ; now, no less than twelve have 
 reached their majority. Four of our number have been 
 married and are the fond parents of four of your great-grand- 
 children, some of whom are here to speak for themselves. 
 Several are successfully engaged in business or professional 
 life. The oldest grandson the oldest son of your oldest 
 son remains at the homestead, preserving the family name 
 and position, and from his reputation in his family, church, 
 and community, bids fair to do so with honor. One is at 
 the head of a firm which has the name of being the liveliest 
 team of insurance brokers in the metropolis. An officer ot 
 the crack regiment of the State, the proud head of a family, 
 and the handsomest of the grandsons, we gladly and unex- 
 pectedly welcomed him among us at the last moment. Two
 
 30 THE DIAMOND WEDDING. 
 
 have completed their course at the college in which you, sir, 
 have for many years held a responsible position, One is a 
 member of the bar of the city of TJtica, has already entered 
 the political arena, and is known as a rising orator through- 
 out the country. Two more have nearly finished their 
 course in college, another is almost ready to enter, while an 
 indefinite number of others in preparation bid fair to keep 
 a representative in the institution as long as its venerable 
 walls shall stand. Of the granddaughters, two have house- 
 holds of their own, miniatures of those of older generations ; 
 and their highest aim is to bring up their children in the 
 ways in which themselves and their parents were taught to 
 walk. They are followed in age by a bevy of young ladies 
 in the bloom of youth and beauty, unsurpassed in grace 
 and loveliness, the flowers of their respective families, 
 and, I doubt not, the belles of their respective communities. 
 The queen of babies represents the younger ones, while 
 the youngest of all has just received the rite of baptism. 
 
 Two of the grandchildren have been named for you, dear 
 grandmother, while no less than six, sir, have borne or bear 
 your honored name. One of them, the oldest of our num- 
 ber, was our brave representative in the Union army during 
 the late war. He enlisted as a private in the 117th 1ST. Y. 
 Volunteers, and assisted in the defence of Washington at the 
 time of the Gettysburg raid. Transferred to Charleston, he 
 took part in the active campaign before that city, and while 
 there received the furlough which permitted him to be with 
 us at the "Golden Wedding." Soon after he was again 
 ordered North, stationed in the trenches at the siege of 
 Petersburg, and lay under almost continuous fire for weeks.
 
 THE DIAMOND WEDDING. 31 
 
 During the active campaign preceding the fall of Rich- 
 mond, his regiment was almost constantly engaged. He 
 himself had, for faithful performance of duties and gallant 
 conduct, received one promotion after another, until he was 
 now in command of his company. Called upon to make an 
 attack on a fortress of the enemy at Chapin's Farm, he was 
 leading the charge at the head of his company when he 
 was wounded by a ball from a rebel rifle. He fell, but 
 was struck a second time before he could be borne from 
 the field, and survived but a few hours. A brave sol- 
 dier, a faithful officer, a valued friend, a true gentleman, 
 an earnest Christian, his death was a loss to his country, 
 his comrades, and his friends. Well beloved by all of us, 
 best loved by those who knew him best, we rniss him 
 from our circle, but know from his life that the loss is 
 only ours not his. 
 
 And now, dear Grandparents, let me, on behalf of my 
 cousins, again congratulate you on having so very happily 
 completed sixty years of your married life. Rare as is this 
 occasion, it is as rare to find lives spent so wholly for good 
 as yours have been. That your remaining years may still 
 be many, and that they may be as happy as those already 
 passed, as happy as you truly merit, is the sincere desire, 
 the earnest hope of all your grandchildren. 
 
 " The generation of the great-grandchildren, and the 
 generations of the future posterity will now be represented 
 by " Brother Charles " (Johnnie Fabre : " When will it be 
 out ? ") He responded in some such words as these :
 
 32 THE DIAMOND WEDDING. 
 
 THE GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN AND THE FUTURE 
 POSTERITY. 
 
 BY KEV. CHARLES E. KNOX. 
 
 As one of the great-grandchildren is already asking when 
 the meeting will be out, my address can hardly take up all 
 the heads of the future posterity. Perhaps I may better 
 confine iny discourse to four heads represented by the four 
 great-grandchildren, two of whom have come to greet their 
 great-grandparents. They have not as yet much to say for 
 themselves, but they certainly represent a large company 
 yet in the future. 
 
 It is interesting and impressive to see the large families of 
 some communities and to trace them back to their origin in 
 a single pair. In the town in which I live, there is a mul- 
 titude of Dodds, and they go back to their origin in Rev. 
 John Dodd, of England, who had eighteen brothers and sis- 
 ters, and was the father of twelve sons arid daughters. And 
 if we could look on to the centennial anniversary of the 
 original wedding, to be held in 1913, we should see no doubt 
 quite a multitude looking back to you or their ancestors. 
 
 Such a prospect certainly ought to be considered a source 
 of real happiness. A numerous and virtuous posterity is one 
 of the best blessings of heaven, as well as one of the greatest 
 gifts to the race. Of course 7 have a very strong belief in the 
 blessing of a numerous family, for if you had stopped with 
 only eight children, as I am the ninth, I should not be here 
 to give thanks. 
 
 The transmission of Christian principles, too, by lines of 
 natural descent, is a grand doctrine of Scripture. Christian
 
 THE DIAMOND WEDDIXG. 88 
 
 character is multiplied and extended by the natural increase 
 of Christian posterity. I had the pleasure a few weeks ago 
 of looking over two large volumes of the Strong genealogy 
 prepared by our old family friend. Rev. Dr. Benjamin W* 
 Dwiglit, of Clinton, a very remarkable record. That record 
 shows that about twenty thousand persons have' descended 
 from the original pair of Strongs, in about two hundred 
 years, and I am told that out of the twenty thousand, about 
 fifteen thousand have been and are Christians. This is a 
 beautiful illustration of the large results which flow from 
 fulfilling the divine design, and of the benefits of that 
 delightful covenant which God makes with His children and 
 their children after them, generation after generation, in 
 response to which my own dear child has received the bap- 
 tismal rite to-day. Such results are to be confidently 
 expected ; and may be confidently anticipated by you, as 
 one of the joys of this happy occasion. 
 
 I count it, therefore, dear parents, your great happiness, 
 that you may look forward to a goodly posterity in the 
 future. After you shall have gone, after all of us children 
 shall be gone, there will be a family to represent you. It is 
 not a mere possibility, nor a mere probability. It is a prob- 
 ability which amounts to a certainty, if your children and 
 children's children pursue the principles which you have 
 taught them. Hereditary influences are among the strongest 
 and most certain forces, morally as well as physically. The 
 divine design is to confirm family instruction from father to 
 son, the faith of godly parents in their children. You have 
 given us the principles of good health, too, as a foundation 
 on which to build. You have taught us moderation, sobri-
 
 34 THE DIAAJOND WEDDING. 
 
 ety, and simplicity in physical habits ; and you may there- 
 fore be sure that if these things are perpetuated, there will be 
 in the future a large number to represent you and recount 
 the virtues to which they will owe their power. 
 
 Who can tell the wonderful changes which will take 
 place before the days of the centennial anniversary. During 
 those great days when the daily balloon will leave Knox- 
 boro for Straban ; or a procession of balloons go from the one 
 place to the other to convey the guests, what a multitude of 
 Knoxes will be here at the old homestead, or at the ances- 
 tral home in the fatherland ! 
 
 And beyond all this is a great happiness. What a high 
 pleasure, when the great multitude shall be gathered from 
 all the families of man to find a great re-union of your own 
 earthly kindred ! You can look forward to that time ! We 
 thank God, that it does not with you mar the joyousness of 
 this occasion to allude even to the river of death ; for you 
 have that buoyancy and hopefulness and tranquility which 
 belong to Christian life. You have hope and buoyancy 
 too strong, therefore, to count such an allusion anything else 
 than appropriate and acceptable on such a day as this. This 
 spirit you bequeath also as a legacy to your great-grand- 
 children and the posterity to come. 
 
 On their behalf, therefore, I thank you for the principles 
 which during your life you have treasured up for them 
 and which through us to-day you transmit from generation 
 to generation. 
 
 " Home, Sweet Home/' was then rendered in solo voice, 
 with variations in the piano accompaniment, the assembly
 
 THE DIAMOND WEDDING. 35 
 
 and the organ joining in the doxology which followed, after 
 which the Rev. P. Barbour, pastor of the Augusta Church, 
 pronounced the benediction. 
 
 Greetings and congratulations from the people came next ; 
 and old friends were pressed into the Hall for the dining 
 hour, one of whom from the Curtiss branch of the kindred, 
 we were glad to keep for a day or two. Calls at the old house 
 renewed the congratulations. Eighty-two persons sat down 
 to the family dinner, among them two who were present at 
 the first wedding, Mr. John Thompson, and Mrs. Mary A. 
 Gaylord (Kendall), who as a little child accompanied her 
 father, the Rev. David Kendall, ths clergyman on that 
 occasion. A glad hour it was with its additional infusion 
 of relatives whom some of us had not recently seen, and of 
 town-acquaintance and out-of-town friends whom we seldom 
 have seen together. The little people took first of all to 
 the solids and goodies, and lastly to the " Golden Wedding 
 Riddles, with a few more for the Diamond Wedding," with 
 which the dessert-dishes were garnished, the issue that very 
 day of the Knoxboro press. A whole load of these small 
 folk shortly after had a grand pumpkin ride in a cart ; 
 bringing home from the field an overflowing supply of that 
 New England vegetable, and appearing in startling array, 
 each one pumpkin in hand, with staccato inquiries for knives 
 with which to carve Jack-o-lanterns for the evening, which 
 indeed ghastly and monstrous illuminations duly appeared. 
 
 The best of all good times must begin to break up all too 
 soon ; and so imperative duties took away our Washington 
 brother almost from the dining table. Amidst reluct- 
 ant farewells, he took his departure for Utica. Games,
 
 36 THE DIAMOND WEDDING. 
 
 however, went on for the entertainment of the, children : 
 " Chickens," if that is it ; " Going to Jerusalem," " Acting 
 Rhyme," " Ish-Ash-Osh," "Ship come in," and all the 
 catalogue up to a court scene, at which Justice Rhodes 
 presided. Attorney John prosecuted the case, and Attorney 
 Edward defended the victim. Benjamin, the alleged 
 criminal on this unhappy occasion, was charged with auda- 
 cious general slander of the whole consinship in his address 
 in church, by boldly pointing out, as he enviously stated 
 and alleged, the superior beauty of one of the grandsons. 
 The testimony and the argument were brief and to the 
 point. The summing up was strictly with judicial terseness 
 and acumen. The decision was briefly,, positively, and em- 
 phatically against the defendant, " not at all on the indict- 
 ment, but from pure sense of justice, in that he, the above 
 victim, had vilely passed by the ladies in making the com- 
 parison." The sentence and the criminal were instantly 
 executed, and thus greatly contributed to the festivities of the 
 Wedding. Two of the comrades-in-arms of the oldest 
 grandson, who fell for his country, responded to an invita- 
 tion to be present that evening, and assisted to correct and 
 record the events of our brave boy's life. The devotions of 
 the evening were conducted in the middle room of the old 
 house, brother Will conducting them. 
 
 The next morning the niece from Elmira must needs re- 
 turn to college to high instruction in Mathematics and His- 
 tory, but a load of cousins gave her a cordial dismissal, by 
 accompanying her to the eastern railroad station. Later in 
 the forenoon the family gathered to hear a sketch of the
 
 THE DIAMOND WEDDING. 37 
 
 life of the oldest grandson, present at the Golden "Wedding. 
 He soon afterward laid down his life for his country. The . 
 sketch of his modest worth, and of the manly develop- 
 ment of his character in the army, accompanied with maps 
 of the encampments and campaigns with which he was 
 connected, was read by brother Charles in part that day, 
 and was finished the following day, and was considered a 
 real contribution to the family history. The sketch is added 
 in full at the end of this book. Poor Carrie about this 
 time, or a little later, fell from the swing and broke her 
 arm. Forthwith her chamber became the centre of sym- 
 pathy, and feet scattered in every direction for the doctor. 
 While the dinner was in progress, the doctor came to set 
 the bone, and after half an hour's pitiful exclamations for 
 the sufferer, the glad word went around, "The bone is set 
 and the worst is over." The boy-cousins, who had an 
 excursion to "the cave " and to "the glen" later in the 
 day, and who brought home trout, " caught in Rob's hands !" 
 gave her a trout supper at night. During this dinner it 
 was that merriment was created by the reading of old 
 letters written by persons then present : one exhibiting the 
 mature judgment of afresh alumnus in respect to college 
 affairs in 1839, another showing the state of a mother's mind 
 when her first-born, " Johnnie," now alumnus, A.M., attor- 
 ney-at-law, etc., could sit up on the floor and had a tooth or 
 two, and another, a description of a western journey, by a 
 fourteen-year-old son, made up of a table of miles, and hours, 
 and names, in truly exact style. Sometime during that 
 day it was that those two small colts, Freddie and Johnnie, 
 gave Bertie a cart-ride full speed down the east hill over the
 
 38 THE DIAMOND WEDDING. 
 
 stones, "almost to the bridges, and upset him three times !" 
 The new great-grandson received attention too, and 
 disclosed to us that his chief end in life was to have and 
 to hold a watch. 
 
 The Oswego brother and sister must needs go on this 
 afternoon, and, after farewells, were taken by the Vernon 
 brother back over the western hills to their train. So, too, 
 the New York grandson and his wife, and the Utica lawyer 
 and Troy merchant must hasten to Oneida for the seven 
 o'clock evening train. Broken-arm Carrie was then estab- 
 lished, and held levee in the west parlor. Meantime the 
 preparations for the grand concert were approaching com- 
 pletion. The concert itself, in the evening, in the character 
 of the music, in the audience, in the management, and in the 
 pecuniary result, was esteemed a complete success thanks to 
 that energetic grandson, who guided this and so many other 
 good things to their efficient and satisfactory result. The 
 receipts of the evening were over one hundred and thirty 
 dollars, and yielded a solid profit for the organ fund. The 
 programme was varied and attractive, as was evident by 
 the cordial encores. Without the encores, it was as follows :
 
 THE DIAMOND WEDDING. 
 
 39 
 
 ORGAN EXHIBITION AND CONCERT, 
 
 PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, KNOXBORO, N. Y., 
 WEDNESDAY EVENING, OCTOBER STH, 1873. 
 
 PROGRAMME. 
 
 i. ANTHEM, 
 
 PART FIRST. 
 
 The Lord is my Shepherd. 
 CHOIR. 
 
 2. Marche triomphale et solenne, _______ 
 
 Organ. Prof. J. SIEBOTH. 
 
 3. PENSEE FUGITIF, Piano and Violin, - ERNST. 
 
 Mrs. (JOHN JAY) KNOX and Mr. GRUHNERT. 
 
 4. QUARTETTE, - Crossing the Grand Sierras, - - - WORK. 
 
 Miss BEEBE, Miss SYKES, Mr. CARPENTER, Mr. GIBSON. 
 
 5. Remembrance of Olden Times. Concert Variations on " Mary 
 
 of Argyle" _________ 
 
 Organ. Prof. J. SIEBOTH. 
 
 - MENDELSSOHN. 
 
 6. SOLO. - - - Greeting, - - - - '- 
 Mrs. (HENRY M.) KNOX. 
 
 PART SECOND. 
 
 7. ANTHEM. / was Glad. - 
 
 CHOIR. 
 
 8. ANDANTE. - Grazioso and Pastor ella, - 
 
 Organ. Prof. J. SIEBOTH. 
 
 9. ANDANTE AND ALLEGRO. Violin Concerto, - MENDELSSOHN. 
 
 Mrs. (JOHN JAY) KNOX and Mr. GRUHNERT. 
 
 10. Fantasia. Brilliante from Themes of Midsummer-night, - - MENDELSSOHN. 
 Organ. Prof. J. SIEBOTH. 
 
 ii. TRIO. 
 
 Protect us Thro* the Coming Night, 
 Miss BEEBE, Miss SYKES, Mr. GIBSON. 
 
 - CURSCHMAN.
 
 40 THE DIAMOND WEDDING. 
 
 Music, however, lias different charms for different com- 
 positions. While some were animated and excited, others 
 were soothed and quieted. Johnnie Fabre, Bertie and Fred. 
 Knox went gradually off into unconscious composure, were 
 helped to stretch at full length on the front cushions, and 
 excited the apprehensions of their musical friends lest they 
 should " roll " at a measure where a " grand crash " would 
 not properly harmonize. Old acquaintances, before and 
 after the concert, came to pay their respects to the old 
 homestead and its occupants. On this day also the second 
 circular letter, variously called the " Grandchildren's Cir- 
 cular," the " Cousins' Circular," or the " Circular, Jr.," was 
 proposed, and the next month took its regular place as a 
 family institution. 
 
 Thursday was a brilliant and unclouded October day. 
 The Clinton Quartette, who assisted to make the concert a 
 success, took breakfast at the Hall, and joined in the family 
 devotional hymn, after which, with the Dresden musician, 
 they took their departure amid thanks for their good ser- 
 vices. At nine and a half o'clock, an assembly gathered to 
 listen to the completion of the sketch of yesterday. Thanks 
 were especially expressed to a good sister for her genealogi- 
 cal tree, which had been admired again and again for its 
 form and ingenious representation, and its additions to our 
 historical knowledge of the family. Additional old-time 
 letters gave spice and zest to the following half-hour. 
 Notices were given that Mrs. Jarley would exhibit her 
 celebrated wax-works on that evening "in this edifice," that 
 there would be a balloon ascension in front of " the other
 
 THE DIAMOND WEDDING. 41 
 
 house" at three o'clock, and that there would be an attempt 
 to photograph the building and the company afterwards. 
 Dinner over, no balloon nor other attraction could keep 
 three cousins from the streams and fish ; and at night again 
 they reported the magnetic power of Rob. in taking trout, 
 "just in his hands!" "right in his hands, sir!" The 
 balloon, under the skill of the Knoxboro balloonist, proved 
 a success, sailing high and far, eastward, in the direction of 
 Straban, Ireland. But there were too many babies and 
 carriages and little, restless bodies, and too many postures 
 on the grass and mound, and too much frolic, too, to give a 
 photographic success even on that resplendent day. With 
 the evening came a procession of fiery-eyed, brandy-nosed, 
 fire-breath ing monsters somewhat pumpkin-1 leaded which 
 alarmed and frightened certainly out of their seven senses all 
 the inhabitants of Hall and houses, until they were informed 
 that they were, after all, human persons seeking to do honor to 
 this illustrious occasion. Mrs. Jarley's agent appeared in due 
 season so soon as her carpenters could get the stage and 
 curtain and fixings ready and at length Mrs. Jarley her- 
 self, who exhibited her " figgers " in an entirely original 
 manner. Mrs. Jarley and Mr. Slum especially were the 
 amazement and admiration of the family and of the outside 
 friends in attendance, w 7 ho found it difficult to conceive how 
 these two leading persons could do what they did. Many 
 were the visits during the day to Carrie's room, and in- 
 quiries in respect to her mending arm. 
 
 Friday the eleventh birthday of one of the grand- 
 sons was another beautiful day. " The Parting
 
 43 THE DIAMOND WEDDING. 
 
 Hymn " of the Golden Wedding was sung at family 
 devotions : 
 
 " The golden band of wedded love, 
 
 The household company, 
 An earnest is of life above, 
 Of heaven's felicity," 
 
 with the announcement that " it is to be sung every 
 day so long as any company remains to sing." The 
 p&rt'mg-hand was then given to " Albany," with regrets 
 of all sorts that he too must go. Conversation fol- 
 lowed in respect to a book to preserve some reminis- 
 cence of these happy hours, and persons were appointed 
 to see that the appropriate thing be done. Hearty thanks, 
 which' could not be expressed in words, were voted to the 
 good and painstaking brother and nephew, architects, 
 builders, and providers for us all, as well as to their good and 
 hospitable spouses, and to the superb home-sister for her 
 skill and guidance. Cordial thanks were also expressed to 
 the Philadelphia cousin for her acceptable representation of 
 another branch- of the original American family. Letters of 
 congratulation were read or recognized. After dinner, and 
 "Delightful Knoxboro," and walks in the orchard and gar- 
 dens, so many of the ]STe\v Jersey family as could be packed 
 into one carriage, were despatched over " the hill " to Clin- 
 ton. The birth-day boy, however, was absent at the time 
 with his three cousins in high pursuit of fish, even unto the 
 Skenandoah, and returning even more successful than before, 
 Rob's hands proving as magnetic or magical as on the two 
 days preceding ; nine shy trout in all, caught in the hands ! 
 The Senior in college, too, departed to the higher walks of
 
 THE DIAMOND WEDDING. 43 
 
 letters. Then came a consultation in respect to " The Ger- 
 man Theological School," and then plans for a " second 
 part " of the festival for two or three days at the Vernon 
 home. A brother and a sister went thither " for over Sun- 
 day," following the " good-man '' and his spouse and 
 "Armenia," who had already led the way. Other com- 
 panies, containing in all a good variety of representation, 
 transferred the cheer to that mansion for a half-week more. 
 The church-meeting of Friday evening was not neglected 
 by those who still remained, reminded, as we all certainly 
 were, by the octogenarian that that was meeting-night. 
 
 Even on Saturday, when the full week was completed, a 
 goodly company broke their fast in the Hall, re-read again 
 the psalm, " Bless the Lord, my soul," with which the 
 first devotions of the Plall were opened, and sung again the 
 Parting Hymn. Rob, indeed, turning from fish to books, 
 in order to be in time for the opening term, had started 
 before the breakfast hour to catch the early train southward. 
 The Albany family, the Washington family, the Troy family, 
 two Oswego grandchildren, the New Jersey bishop and his 
 oldest, were packed then into the two large wagons, one of 
 which so groaned beneath the load that the tire ran off on 
 the way down to " the Falls.*' There was a shout, when on 
 turning a curve, Hob was espied in full retreat from the 
 station, high -seated in a lumber wagon. It seems that, 
 both in coming and going to a diamond wedding, he es- 
 teemed hay-rack and lumber wagon far preferable to a more 
 elegant conveyance especially after missing connection. 
 However, he had two days' visit more at the old homestead,
 
 44 THE DIAMOND WEDDING. 
 
 and who knows how many fish he would have caught if the 
 next day hadn't been Sunday! Came with the broken 
 arm, too had both him and his trout ! Comforted by her 
 cousin Kitty and cared for by her mother, she was the cen- 
 tre of kind attentions, while the St. Paul family lingered 
 for a fortnight at the other house, and waked the musical 
 echoes in a building now sacred with happy associations 
 with all that makes home attractive and joyous. 
 
 Thrice happy week ! sparkling, serene, arid pure as dia- 
 mond ! The aspiration of the Golden Wedding book at its 
 close : " O, happy days of a golden week ! come again ! 
 O, golden day ! come to some of us," was more than realized. 
 Happier hours, a longer week, full of golden days, had 
 already come to us ! 0, for another ten years of the wedded 
 life in the old homestead, and a day in which to crown the 
 life of the honored pair ! * 
 
 * Our desire expressed in these last words was not to be gratified. 
 Various obstacles deferred the completion of this family-story for a 
 year and a half. Just while the proof of the whole was in our hands, 
 our dear mother departed from us. Her sufferings during which 
 she could best express her Christian trust by saying that she seemed 
 to be carried in her Saviour's arms had ceased. In the dear room, 
 illumined now by the sweet spiritual expression of her last days, as 
 the Sabbath was ushered in on May 16, 1875, she fell asleep, gentle 
 as an infant begins its slumber a beautiful end to a long and useful 
 life. A kind Providence unexpectedly brought us all home during 
 her sickness and together on the day of her death. Borne by her 
 sons and sons-in-law, we laid her in the Sleeping-Place on May 18th, 
 the eighty-fourth birth-day of her husband. " Her children arise up 
 and call her blessed : her husband also, and he praiseth her."
 
 SKETCH OF THE LIFE 
 
 OF 
 
 CAPTAIN JOHN J. KNOX WILLIAMS, 
 
 OLDEST GRANDSON 
 
 OF 
 
 JOHN J. AND SARAH A. KNOX, 
 
 WHO 
 
 FELL IN DEFENCE OF HIS COUNTRY 
 
 AT THE 
 
 BATTLE OF CHAPIN'S FARM, 
 SEPTEMBER 29-30, 1864. 
 
 PREPARED BY THE 
 
 REV. CHARLES E. KNOX, 
 
 AND 
 
 READ AT THE DIAMOND WEDDING.
 
 A S KETC H. 
 
 AT the Golden Wedding, ten years ago, one of the grandchildren 
 stood with us somewhat peculiar and conspicuous in our wide do- 
 mestic circle. He was the oldest grandchild, and his age just divided 
 in equal parts the fifty years. He came in a soldier's blouse from 
 Folly Island, Charleston, S. C., where he was then bombarding and 
 bombarded by the rebels of that hot-headed town. He bore the 
 name of h's grandfather, and we fondly hoped might hand it down 
 to others after him. He stood at the head of twenty-eight grand- 
 children, and was the only one of the twenty-one grandchildren, then 
 living, who had attained his majority, and who was legally competent 
 to take up arms for his country. He represented to us, therefore, at 
 that time, the promised manhood of the coining generation. The 
 rough campaigns had not broken him down, although his brief fur- 
 lough was given as respite to his health. We all hoped shortly to see 
 him the cruel war over settled in the enjoyment of domestic affec- 
 tion, and of the peaceful pursuits which he had lifted his arm to 
 defend. 
 
 It would not be agreeable to any of us to pretend, in this sketch of 
 his life, that he possessed remarkable qualities or virtues. He had 
 no thought of claiming them. In a simple and manly way he did 
 his duty like thousands of others, and grew more manly, and, as we 
 believe, more a Christian in discharging his brave service. But as 
 his career as a soldier, and his noble death, make him our own 
 domestic patriot, let us preserve and cherish in our succeeding 
 generations an outline of his life. With such a picture of his life, we 
 shall see in him the representative Ameiican soldier in the common 
 ranks, in those fierce days when Union triumphed over Secession, and 
 when emancipation dawned like a sunrise on a race waiting and 
 watching. 
 
 Let us put his military life into the foreground as the chief thing; 
 and afterwards just touch the domestic events cf his early years, in 
 order to round out the sketch. 
 
 (47)
 
 48 A SKETCH. 
 
 HIS MILITARY LIFE. 
 
 His military life falls naturally into six parts : 1. The Enlistment ; 
 2. The Defence of Washington; 3. Suffolk and the Peninsula Raid; 
 4. Folly Island; 5. City Point and Petersburg; and 6. The Last 
 Battles. 
 
 I. THE ENLISTMENT. 
 
 Knox Williams had been bookkeeper and clerk for his uncle James 
 in "the good old store" a little over a year, when President Lincoln's 
 call for three hundred thousand additional men on July 1, 1862, 
 rang through the land. Governor Morgan's proclamation supporting 
 the call came the next day. Three days later a circular went forth 
 from the State Adjutant-General's Office at Albany, directing that 
 every senatorial district in the State should be made a regimental 
 district, and that in each district a camp for a new regiment of vol- 
 unteers should be established. On the committee to raise the regi- 
 ment in this district were such men as Judge W. J. Bacon and 
 Charles Doolittle, of Utica ; Benj. N. Huutington and Calvert Coin- 
 stock, Esq., of Rome; 0. S. Williams, of Clinton ; D. B. Goodwin, of 
 Waterville; and David T. Jenkins, of Vernon. One year before, the 
 panic of Bull Run had sent a momentary panic through the land. 
 Five months before, the North had been elated with the spectacle of 
 Floyd and Pillow sneaking in a scamper and fright from the fill of 
 Fort Donaldson in Tennessee, at which time Gen. Grant came first 
 into prominent notice by his reply to Gen. Buckner, ' No teims other 
 than unconditional and absolute surrender can be accepted. I propose 
 to move immediately upon your works." Three months before, both 
 North and South had been puzzled by the two days' battle at Shiloh, 
 in southern Tennessee, where one day the Confederate army tri- 
 umphed, when the next day the Union troops were triumphant ; when 
 the Confederate Sidney Johnson fell, and where Grant and Buell 
 checked, if they did not rout, Beauregard. But, for three long 
 months, McClellan had been conducting his Peninsula Campaign in 
 Virginia, and the seige of Yorktown, the battles of Fair Oaks, 
 Games' Mill, and Malvern Hill had just resulted in retreat to Harri- 
 son's Landing, on the James River. The whole country was now alive, 
 appealing for the new volunteers 300,000 strong. The Governor of 
 New York had sent a circular address to the Supervisor of every 
 town, saying: "The Rebel Capital must not be permitted longer to 
 defy the authority of the Government of the United States, and
 
 A SKETCH. 49 
 
 degrade it in the estimation of the nations of the earth." Public 
 speakers were addressing meetings throughout the country. Such 
 meetings were held at the Union Church of Knoxboro, and addressed 
 by prominent men. Wrn. R. Pease had already been appointed Col- 
 onel of the regiment, and Camp Huntington had been established at 
 Rome, between Dominic and Liberty streets, on the western skirt of 
 the village, as the rendezvous of the Fourth Oneida regiment of volun- 
 teers. 
 
 There was much talk at the store among the patriotic boys, 
 in which Knox took no inconsiderable part. Who first made the pro- 
 posal to form a squad for enlistment, we do not know. The mem- 
 bers of Norman Knox's Bible cla^s, who were at that time studying 
 what was once described by misprint, as " A War with St. Paul,"* 
 and thus fitting themselves for military service, were the principal 
 persons ; in which class were Kendall, Lindsley, Robbins, Beach, 
 Ennis, West, and King ; and more than once the words, " I will go if 
 you will," passed from one to the other. Knox and Stone, we believe, 
 challenged each other. The two went to see Kendall, who was then 
 in the ' other store." Beach made the fourth. Stone withdrew be- 
 cause he was under age. As the good parents in Vernon became 
 aware of the rising spirit in this little 'boro, they watched with patri- 
 otic solicitude its effect on their only child. When the mother went 
 on a visit to Marcellus, she made the father promise that he would 
 not influence Knox. His father wrote him a letter, urging him not 
 to commit himself till he had an examination by his own family 
 physician. That brought him over to Vernon. Dr. Freeman made an 
 examination of his health ; and although confidentially the Dr. in- 
 formed his father that sympto.is showing tendency to disease of the 
 heart were in existence, he was pronounced physically competent for 
 military service. While he obtained his mother's indirect assent to 
 his enlistment, his father endeavored to obtain for him something 
 more than a private's place. Knox sought nothing for himself, but 
 it was intimated to him that if he would enlist in Brigham's com- 
 pany from Vernon (which became Company A), and bring his squad 
 with him, he might obtain a commission as second Lieutenant. He 
 stood, however, firmly by the Augusta boys, who soon pledged them- 
 selves to each other to go, and to go together. The squad thus 
 formed, thought at one time of going into cavalry service under Wat- 
 son Seward, of Utica, but shortly abandoned this suggestion. This 
 
 * "A Year with St. Paul."
 
 50 A SKETCH. 
 
 squad of sturdy yeomen, was made up of twelve* young men whose 
 names shall be handed down to the Knox family posterity in full : 
 
 John J. Knox Williams, merchant's clerk ; William Linclsley, James 
 Watson Beach, V. Remrnington Ennis, farmers ; Austin J. Kendall, 
 merchant; A. S. Cotterell, farmer ; Thomas Gray, mechanic ; Isaac M. 
 Miller, Albert W. Bobbins, Frank M.West, Henry DwightKing, George 
 H. King, farmers. 
 
 Fully committed now to each other, they went together to Rome, 
 proceeded to camp Huntingdon, where, on the 12th of August, 1862, 
 they enrolled themselves as volunteers, and the next day, the 13th, 
 were mustered into the regiment as an important part of company G. 
 Charles H. Roys, who took Tacitus' Agricola, as a Junior in Hamil- 
 ton College under Tutor Knox in 1859, and was, therefore, fully pre- 
 pared for military life,was appointed captain of the company. The ?quad 
 was about the last squad mustered in to make up the company, and 
 obtained only the offices of fifth sergeant and corpornl, to which Knox 
 and Wm. Lindsley were appointed. The new sergeant being a skill- 
 ful penman and ready to work, became, on the 18th, clerk for the 
 captain, and made for him his rolls. His photograph, too. was then 
 taken, large and small, for loved ones at home, and more conveniences 
 provided for himself than rigid military lav afterwards admitted. 
 So prompt and strong was the patriotic spirit, that within a month from 
 the appointment of Colonel Pea-e as the organizing officer, and with- 
 in three weeks from the day when he gave the regiment his entire 
 attention, eleven hundred volunteers were on hand to answer to the 
 call for a maximum quota often hundred and ten. The officers were 
 compelled to refuse to take more, for every company had its full num- 
 ber of one hundred and one on the 20th. On that day the organiza- 
 tion was complete, and the regiment received its designation as the 
 One Hundred and Seventeenth Regiment, New York Volunteers. Of 
 the officers particularly known to our family, were Captain J. P. Stone, 
 company B, an old school-mate of Charles at the Rome Academy, who 
 was shot dead by a sharp-shooter at Petersburg Heights ; Captain 
 George W. Brigham, Company A. of Vernon, who died from wounds 
 received at the battle of Drury's Bluff. Sergeant- Major Milton Bray- 
 ton, of the non-commissioned staff, son of the late elder Harvey 
 Brayton, of the First Church of Rome; Dr. Edward Loomis, surgeon, 
 from Westmoreland; and Rev. J. T. Crippin, chaplain, pastor of the 
 
 * " My influence in getting the twelve men to enter, might be mentioned." Letter 
 July 25, 1863.
 
 A SKETCH. 51 
 
 Bleeker St. Methodist Church of Utica. The muster was no sooner com- 
 pleted than the Colonel notified, by telegraph, the War Department, 
 on the 20th, that the regiment was ready, and the order came back to 
 move on the 22d, and report in Washington. On that eventful Fri- 
 day, thousands filled the streets of Rome; the Rome parsonage sent 
 her representatives to say good-bye ; the father bid his son God-speed ; 
 the Rev. James Irwin, of the Methodist Church, Rome, commended 
 the brave boys to the God of armies ; and at about mid-day, escorted 
 by the Gansevoort Light Guards, and by an overflowing concourse 
 of people, amid waving handkerchiefs, and cheers, and a thousand 
 salutations, the fine regiment, whose physical appearance was then 
 noted as truly superior, moved to the cars. Sisters, mothers, and 
 lovers, (for many a secret engagement for marriage must then 
 needs be known,) said the tender and anxious farewell, and the long 
 train of twenty-two passenger coaches and four freight cars started at 
 the whistle. Oriskany and Whitesboro demonstrated their sympa- 
 thy and approval ; " the old band " with two thousand people hailed 
 them at Utica; Judge Bacon greeted them in behalf of the county 
 military committee, and Uncle Charlie shook his nephew by the hand. 
 Good spirits everywhere prevailed, and with scarcely a wet eye the 
 precious train conveying half the life of hundreds of homes, departed ; 
 and the anxious multitudes turned their eastward eyes back to their 
 pursuits. The train reached Albany at 10 o'clock, too late for the re- 
 ception which the city proposed, but barrels of sandwiches, crackers, 
 biscuits, and cookies were rolled on board the vessels on which the 
 regiment embarked. Uncle Strong gave our good boy a greeting, 
 and brought him his rubber blanket and pillow, which contributed 
 not a little to his comforts. Aunt Adelaide had waited at the store till 
 dark ; and it was now impossible to accept his uncle's offer of a car- 
 riage to the house. About 11 o'clock, the regiment was afloat on the 
 Hudson, a steamer with a barge lashed to either side bearing them 
 on, and company G fortunately on the steamer. On deck and on 
 boxes the new soldiers slept. It was his first night on the Hudson 
 outside a state-room, and he slept ' in a little tucked-up place near 
 the engine," and awakened expecting to find himself in New York. 
 They were not more than half way. Many were the hearty recogni- 
 tions of their loyalty, which they received from either bank of the 
 river. Harvesters iu the field swung their hats or shouted as they 
 threw them up ; groups at the doors of houses waved the stars and 
 stripes ; passengers in the rattling trains let fly their handkerchiefs ; 
 children ran to the wharves of towns to look and cheer ; and cheer
 
 52 A SKETCH. 
 
 and shout, and swinging hats, and waving handkerchiefs sent back 
 the response from the crowded decks, under the golden sun on the 
 river's tide. The rations for the regiment had failed when they 
 reached the land of Jersey at five o'clock on Saturday afternoon. Hon- 
 est men are now to be found everywhere in that land, but on that day 
 at Jersey City, amid the rush and excitement, the regiment were be- 
 set by petty thieves, who laid their hands on every little article, and 
 water was sold to the hot and thirsty patriots for two cents a glass. 
 Uncle Talcott and cousin Will. Talcott, however, were on hand to 
 cheer our family hero. At six and a half o'clock, Company G and five 
 other companies took one train for Philadelphia, and the remaining 
 four companies followed at about eight o'clock. The famous Cooper- 
 shop Saloon at Philadelphia, open night and day for moving regiments, 
 gave them all breakfast of ham, bread and butter, tomatoes, and coffee. 
 On Sunday morning, at a long tier of marble basins, company after com- 
 pany took a good wash, and then camped on the sidewalk till they 
 left for Baltimore at half-past eight in freight cars. At Havre de 
 Grace, one or two companies received Springfield muskets so as to 
 act as guard through Baltimore. Three miles of peaceful march 
 through Baltimore gave the young Sergeant blistered feet. No in- 
 sult was offered, except that one Secesh lady expressed the kindly 
 vdsh, that " not one of the regiment would live to return." The regi- 
 ment reached Washington at three o'clock Monday morning, the 25th, 
 and encamped on the floor of some large barracks near the railroad 
 depot. There Knox slept soundly three hours. Eations received, 
 they marched to Long Bridge, halted half an hour, and were then 
 ordered, not to cross the bridge into Virginia, but to Tenallytown, 
 seven miles north-west of Washington, four miles from Georgetown, 
 on the north side of the Potomac, and in the District, where they slept 
 for the first time on the ground. Here Colonel Pease reported to 
 General Barnard, Engineer-in-Chief for the Defences of Washington. 
 Three men had wounded themselves with revolvers. Some of the 
 regiment in a corn-field were shot at, it was supposed by rebels, and 
 a scouting party were sent out in pursuit. No tents had as yet been 
 provided, but were expected soon. And thus ou*r volunteer has enlisted 
 and has so soon come within range of the enemy, at least of the ene- 
 my's stragglers or sympathizers. 
 
 II. THE DEFENCE OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 The One Hundred and Seventeenth Regiment passed now six and a 
 half months in their fortification about Washington. From August
 
 A SKETCH. .-,;{ 
 
 25, 1862, to April 15, 1863, they encamped outside Forts Alex- 
 ander and Ripley (Baker). Pope, the boaster, at the beginning of 
 this time, had executed his brilliant march on to Richmond as far as 
 Culpepper Court House and Cedar Mountain, had been outflanked 
 by Stewart, had been cut up by Lee, ha r l retreated behind Fairfax to 
 the defence of Washington, had resigned his command, and left his 
 
 Army of Virginia to be merged in McClellan's Army of the Potomac, 
 which Army of the Potomac had now returned from the James up 
 the Potomac to Acquia Creek. This was Pope's campaign in north-
 
 54 A SKETCH. 
 
 era Virginia during the month of August, and ending September 2, 
 1862; and when the One Hundred and Seventeenth poured through 
 the excited Pennsylvania Avenue, on the 25th of August, the cry of 
 the newsboys wa?, ' Pope marching on to Richmond." The tents for 
 the regiment arrived on the 26th ; they were arranged in streets on a 
 slope towards the Potomac, and under a grove. The raw sergeant 
 was made sergeant of the guard for twenty-five hours without sleep 
 or rest. The next night the regiment was roused by the long roll, 
 and ordered under arms. Chain Bridge, three miles distant, is in dan- 
 ger from a sudden dash of the enemy. Five rounds of cartridges 
 are distributed. " Up hill and down, through woods and dark ravines," 
 in the darkness, the regiment hasten to the Bridge, where they receive 
 ten rounds of cartridges more. Quick indeed is this to go into bat- 
 tle without even a drill ! The Colonel has been directed to mine the 
 abutments, and to destroy the bridge if necessary. It is a false alarm, 
 however ; no harm beyond a little fright is done. The excursion is 
 playfully called the "Battle of Chain Bridge," and the regiment 
 march back at ten o'clock to Tenallytown. The battles between Pope 
 and Stonewall Jackson were going on, and they could hear the artil- 
 lery. From Tenallytown they were shortly ordered a half mile dis- 
 tant to pitch outside Fort Pennsylvania, whence again, on the 26th, 
 they moved about a mile and a half to guard three forts, Alexander, 
 Eipley, and Franklin. Two of these forts were unfinished, and the 
 three and their connecting fortifications formed nearly a semi-circle 
 on the high bluff of the Potomac, from which their guns could sweep 
 five miles riverward or landward. The scenery was fine, the Ohio 
 and Chesapeake Canal between them and the river, the Chain Biidge 
 in sight, with great troops of infantry, cavalry, artillery and baggage 
 wagons, and many a loyal flag floating over fortifications on the hills 
 of Virginia, and thousands of tents on the hills, " which look mag- 
 nificently at night when lit up." This was their camp at Fort Alex- 
 ander, Maryland. On the 1st, Companies G and B were ordered to 
 fell the woods in front of the forts, in order to open a range for the 
 guns, and to obstruct the roads. The tents in camp are crowded, six 
 or seven occupying the space sufficient only for four or five ; but with 
 milk, bread, melons, peaches, and wild grapes, chickens and potatoes, 
 the squad live well, and the general health of the regiment is good. 
 With marching and moving camp, and chopping of trees and wood, 
 they have, as yet, no drill. Here the regiment remained until the 
 middle of November on guard and on fatigue duty. The camp life 
 was not exciting, but the little incidents show the feeling of the
 
 A SKETCH. 55 
 
 common soldier at that time. The four companies which fell the 
 trees have roll-call at five and a half o'clock, and breakfas* at seven 
 o'clock, fall in for the woods, chop on the trees to the music of two 
 or tliree hundred axes till twelve, march 1'ack to camp for dinner and 
 resume the music with variations of pine trunks and oak branches 
 till six p. M. Some of the boys do not )ike the axe-work nor the 
 rations, but Knox takes comfort in his rubber pillow at night and 
 says, " I am very well suited and expect to take things as they come." 
 The tent mates are six: Knox, Kendall, Robbins, the two Kings, and 
 Miller. The tent, of course, crowded, and the loose cups, plates, etc., 
 stowe-l away in a box set up in front. The Rev. Mr. Crippin an- 
 nounces a week-day prayer-meeting in the open air, and services the 
 following Sunday, if the weather permit, and is well liked by the 
 boys. The Sunday service was held at two and a half o'clock, the 
 weekly inspection occupying the forenoon, and prayer-meeting Sun- 
 day evening at seven. Company G gained a reputation as a great letter- 
 writing company, and supplies to and draws from the tri-weekly 
 mail bag a large proportion of its contents. As a larger proportion 
 than usual of the company are unmarried, the busy pens are supposed 
 to sing, " The girl I left behind me.'' Knox is kept in camp half the 
 time making out pay-rolls. He has a visit from Eddie Anderson, 
 \v iom he describes as having changed some and is ' quite a nice- 
 looking hoy,'' enjoys his rations, sleeps soundly rolled in his blanket 
 on the board tent floor, and is actually growing fat, gaining ten 
 pounds in thirty-five days. 
 
 A battery of four brass six-pounders arrives, and is mounted at the 
 head of his camp street, with a range of the river and woods for two 
 miles. Three desertions t >ke place, two of which are recovered, and 
 the mi.-creants brought back to the guard-house. There is need 
 enough of the fortification! around Washington, for Lee and his 
 ragged troops, elated by success over Pope, have crossed the Potomac 
 at Leeslmrg, some twenty or twenty-five miles above our brave boys' 
 encampment. The invading ariny crosses the river on the 4th or 7th 
 of September, singing ''My Maryland," with a proclamation of Lee 
 inviting the Marylanders to join the Southern army, and with hopes 
 to rouse the people of the State to the standard of revolt. 
 
 On the Union side, McClellan. restored to command, marched with 
 87,000 men, b, five parallel roads, towards Frederick City, some forty 
 miles north west from Washington, the army covering the space be- 
 tween the Potomac river and the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, thus 
 covering both Baltimore and Washington. Lee's forces, under Stone-
 
 56 A SKETCH. 
 
 wall Jackson, had taken Harper's Ferry (on the 15th). McClellan bad 
 forced the passes of South Mountain (the Blue Ridge, in Maryland,) on 
 the 14th and 15th. Lee's plan was to march straight north into 
 Pennsylvania, tap the Cumberland valley at Chambersburg. and com- 
 pel the Union army away from Washington and Baltimore. The 
 drawn-battle of Antietam was fought on the Ifith and 17th, at Sharps- 
 burg, about eight miles north of Harper's Ferry, and McClellan's 
 inactivity on the 18th permitted Lee to e-cnpe on the 18th through 
 Harper's Ferry into the Shenandoah valley to Winchester. 
 
 On the 26th of September Knox has a pass for Washington ; visits 
 the public institut : ons except the Capitol, which is being used as a 
 hospital ; has his photograph taken ; gets letters from his Aunt Emma 
 and Uncle Henry, is brought back by his Uncle Jay, whom he intro- 
 duces to the Augusta boys ; sees Joe Warren, who has his discharge, 
 and is going home next week. The boys have a splendid swim 
 in the Potomac, and magnify its clear water ; and the rubber-pillow 
 comes again into play, to help these lads from the high lands of Au- 
 gusta, who never could find water enough at home in which to learn 
 to swim. Grapes came in from the woods, corn from the corn-field, 
 and by soaking the hard crackers for a couple of hours in water 
 before cooking, they are made " first-rate." 
 
 " Albert Shearman has been transferred to Company A." 
 
 The popular song, 
 
 " 1 wish I were in Oneida County, 
 Then Uncle Sam might keep his bounty, 
 Chop away, chop away, chop away in Dixie," 
 
 now must be changed to " Dig away, dig away," for 150 men are now 
 detailed to work on the rifle-pits which are being dug around the 
 three forts. " The regiment is praised by the Colonel for their firing 
 on parade." Lieutenant Millard becomes Adjutant ; the 5th sergeant 
 becomes 4th sergeant ; Thomas Gray is made corporal ; " and Miller 
 keeps us in a roar half the time, but does his duty well." The two 
 tents of the Augusta squad are pronounced on inspection the finest 
 on the street evergreens now adorn the tent and form the bed ; 
 Major-General Banks and Colonel Haskins ride through the regiment, 
 and the rations " taste a good sight better than the dinner he had 
 in Washington with Uncle Jay." Orders were Issued for the regi- 
 ment to move to Minnesota to fight the Indians, but were counter- 
 manded. There are rumors of peace in process of negotiation by the 
 peace commissioners, and the Major thinks they will be home by the 1st
 
 A SKETCH. 57 
 
 of January. Perkins, from the corners, in Company I\, has shot his 
 thumb, so that the first joint must be amputated ; and Kirk Talcott, 
 of the engineer corps, writes from Fernandina, Fla., from the midst 
 of heat and mosquitoes. In the middle of October the company begins 
 to bring logs and boards to build winter-quarters. With what boards 
 they can " snatch " and buy, the Augusta boys erect a concern, Knox 
 says, which would pass for a very good pig-pen at home, but is pro- 
 nounced by every one who visits it, the best in the regiment. " It 
 is built at the foot of Roys Avenue," and is five feet high, nine feet 
 wide, and eighteen feet long. " Our two tents are placed on top, and 
 loom up some twelve feet, presenting quite a grand appearance in 
 contrast with tents that set on the ground, or on logs three or four feet 
 high." In the interior are three berths at each end, with room in each 
 berth for two ; and, for a stove, they have the top of an old stove, and 
 bricks laid with lime and mud, which they declare much better than 
 the sheet-iron stoves which the boys bring into camp. To crown all, 
 is a kitten which came in one day, and which they intend to keep 
 for a pet, and which they reckon will be a right smart cat before 
 spring, and which manages to get a warm berth next one of them 
 every ni.'?ht. Two or three weeks later another kitten arrives, which 
 two kittens are christened " Maryland " and " Columbia ; " one of the 
 boys says worth forty babies." Their larder is so well supplied that 
 the captain thinks they had gotten into the Quartermaster's Depart- 
 ment ; the cupboard contains thirty loaves of bread, and they live, 
 they say, " on the top shelf." 
 
 Kendall, who was on guard in the rainy night of September 12th, 
 was obliged to come in at four o'clock, and was down all the day. 
 Some of the rest are sick ; but Knox, who seemed so slender, is physi- 
 cally the best man in the squad. And why ? " While eating supper," 
 he of the good appetite writes, " a report came of an advance of 
 rebel cavalry, and additional pickets have been thrown out, and every 
 man has been supplied with forty rounds of cartridges, and rifled field- 
 pieces have been placed in the battery, but amid all the excitement 
 they could not choke me off from sweet potatoes and fresh beef." 
 However, Lindsley was afterwards sick for two weeks, and Kendall 
 and Gray again down. Two deserters receive their sentence from 
 court martial, three and six months imprisonment, the brand of letter 
 D, a shaved head, and to be drummed out of camp. 
 
 Religious life is not neglected. " The church formed by our chap- 
 lain,'' writes Knox, ' ' numbers four of the Augusta boys among its num- 
 bers (Kendall, Robbins, Knox, and Lindsley). Services are held every
 
 58 A SKETCH. 
 
 Sunday afternoon and evening. "VVe read a chapter in the Testament 
 every evening in the tent, after which one of us leads in prayer, and 
 we go to sleep." He says, too, of the new winter quarters : " We 
 moved in yesterday and are not yet settled, but are just as it happens 
 for the Sabbath.'' 1 Our brave boys had a conscience towards God as well 
 as towards their country ! " We have beside our church services on the 
 Sabbath, a weekly prayer-meeting every Thursday evening." One 
 other thing is to be noticed before they break camp on the 14th of 
 November. 
 
 "Last night," writes Knox, on the 21st of October, "our teamster 
 brought up fifty seven boxes for the regiment." And later, in appar- 
 ent answer to his father's incredulity, he says : " Tarn not mistaken 
 in saying that our teamster brought up fifty-seven boxes. Every day 
 or two one of our teamsters brings as many boxes as four horse-; can 
 draw, so that were are not the only ones that get goodies from home." 
 Where did the boxes come from ? Theirs came from a society at this 
 good 'boro, which completed its organization at the house of William 
 Pierce on September 26th, as " The Home Guard of Company G" of 
 which James A. Gray was first elected President, and on declining, 
 James C. Knox was elected in his place ; M. S. Miller, Vice-President ; 
 Emma L. Knox, Secretary ; and Philemon Van Evera, Treasurer ; and 
 at which meeting, letters were read from Knox Williams, Lindsk-y, 
 Kendall, King, and two from Miller. This home guard, like thou- 
 sands of like associations throughout the country, was a most efficient 
 aid and comfort to the brave boys in the field. The meetings were 
 sources of no little entertainment. A delinquent committee was sol- 
 emnly admonished, that if they failed or were absent again, they would 
 be treated as deserters. The third meeting was regaled, at the request 
 of the President (not the U. S. President, but President Knox of the 
 Home Guard), with a potato story by Mr. Miller, and letters were read 
 from MLler, Bobbins, Beach, West, and Kendall. The fourth meeting 
 was changed from Mr. Bobbins' to James C. Knox's, as the President 
 explained, because it was easier to change the place of meeting than 
 to postpone a wedding. Remarks and prayer were made at the fifth 
 meeting by Rev. O. Bartholomew, and letters from Miller and Ennis 
 were read. The number of members present at the second meeting was 
 sixteen; forty-two at the third; fifty-one at the fourth, and the full 
 membership ran up to one hundred and fifty-five. As indicative of the 
 spirit of the association, on Feb. 4th, 1863, when the thermometer rnn 
 twenty degrees below zero, eighty were present. The barrels and 
 boxes dispatched were not stinted in number or iu goodies, nor were
 
 A SKETCH. 59 
 
 they confined to Company G. Bates' Battery shared as well, and the 
 hospitals afterwards were cired for. The whole country was startled 
 ji:st then in the middle of October by the swift raid of Stuart into 
 Pennsylvania, who occupied Chambersburg, burned Government 
 stores there, and although fast pursued, made an entire circuit of 
 McClellan's army, and escaped into Virginia. 
 
 McClellan a'terwards pushed forward down the Shenandoah Val- 
 ley, where he was again superseded in command ; Burnside this time 
 taking his place, on the 7th of November. However, the camp is 
 breaking up at Fort Alexander. Let us hasten back. 
 
 Carn[, ^fl>/l^x, Md. The camp broke up on the 12th of November ; 
 but our boy was not in camp. He and Robbins were out on picket, 
 and returning, found their house torn up. On the 17th he writes: 
 " Last Wednesday morning I was out on picket. I found the regiment 
 gone, when I returned, relieved by the 18th Maine. Everything was 
 gone with the regiment, except some cooking utensils and a few of 
 the best tents, which were used as hospitals. Our tent was filled. 
 The surgeon had made a requisition for seven ambulances from Wash- 
 ington, to remove those who were not able to go with the regiment 
 to the General Hospital, but they did not come till quite late. After 
 we had assisted them to pack up, and had seen them safely in the am- 
 bulances, among whom were Remington Ennis and Henry D. King, 
 I arranged those that remained as comfortably as I could for the 
 night, and stowed myself away, sleeping soundly till the next morn- 
 ing, when the teamsters came for what remained, and we were obliged 
 to strike our tents and bid farewell to our old home." " The new 
 camp is pleasantly situated on a gradually sloping hill-side, only two 
 miles from Fort Alexander, and about a mile and a half from our old 
 camping ground at Tenallytown." " We came here to work on the 
 rifle-pits, which are being built around the defences at Washington. 
 We have, I understand, only about ten days' work on the pits." The 
 new camp is Camp Morris, near Fort Mansfield. The soil, however, was 
 soft, and the rains frequent and abundant, and the camp became such 
 a slough, that the regiment gave it the name of " Camp Mud." Here 
 the boys of the tent work all day to make an underground stove, a 
 trench beginning in a outside fire-place on one side of the tent, 
 covered with stones where it passes through the tent, and ending in a 
 chimney out side at the back end of the tent. Like all the grand 
 plans of this buoyant squad, it works to a charm. 
 
 But they are not destined to enjoy it. For, after about a weeks 
 sojourn, on the 24th November, five companies moved a mile to-
 
 GO 
 
 A SKETCH. 
 
 ward Tenallytown. The report is that they will go into winter-quar- 
 ters there. Company G followed, and, although they did not go into 
 
 Bottom of Tent inside 
 
 I f 
 
 Trench 
 
 a 
 
 fire Place* 
 
 winter-quarters, they proceeded to make themselves comfortable by 
 another warming-trench, pictured with Knox's pen as follows : 
 
 Just before they arrived they were surprised to see in the New York 
 " Tribune's " list of those who had died in the Washington Hospital, the 
 name of V. Remington Ennis, the only one of the company who had 
 thus far died, and one of their squad. They were greatly surprised, 
 not knowing that he was considered dangerously sick. Miller and 
 Knox procured a pass for Washington, and found him already buried. 
 
 Knox is pleased to see how comparatively quiet the city is on Sun- 
 day. Their new camp is still called Camp Morris, where they are now 
 visited by Mr. Morris S. Miller from home, who comes as a carpet- 
 bagger, and brings his bag filled with good things, and who is also 
 on the sad errand of the removal of Ennis' body. Knox, Kendall, 
 and Miller, go with him to Washington to assist him. The Home 
 Guard, on Mr. Miller's return, at its meeting of December 3, 1862, 
 adopted suitable resolutions commending the character of the dead, 
 which were transmitted to his friends and to the brave boys in camp. 
 He died of fever contracted in camp. Mr. Miller at that meeting 
 spoke of his sickness and death, of his neglect of himself and kind- 
 ness to others. At Camp Morris, wherever they dig they find soap- 
 stone, so that the small fort or redoubt which the regiment were then 
 building, and designated Fort Elliptic, was called by the men " Soap-
 
 A SKETCH. 61 
 
 stone Port." Knox now weighs 135 Ibs., a gain of 20 Ibs. since he 
 left home three months before. Thanksgiving goodies, a roast tur- 
 key in a box, etc., came a little too late for Thanksgiving day, but not 
 too late for eager appetites. Company I had lost six men on Dec. llth, 
 but Company G only two.one of whom had been discharged and died at 
 Jersey City. For a while the sergeants do not have to go out to 
 the rifle-pits ; but afterwards, in the short winter days, tliey must 
 answer the roll-call at daybreak, and be off to the pits at eight and 
 again from one to five o'clock. The air is now, in the middle of 
 December, piercingly cold. Hardly a week passes without a tent 
 catching on fire, and if once fairly in a blaze it burns to the ground. 
 The Colonel drills the commissioned and non-commissioned officers, 
 and serves some practical jokes on the inexperienced officers, in the 
 evolutions, sprawling the dignity of some at full length on the ground. 
 The Chaplain presents to the regiment, drawn up in hollow square, a 
 beautiful silk banner, the gift of the ladies of Utica. As usual, Knox 
 writes his letter seated flat on the floor with paper on knee, some of 
 the boys in a snooze, while he keeps the pen in motion as long as the 
 candle holds out. Orders have now come to break the regiment into 
 two battalions and move to two new posts. During their encamp- 
 ment at Camp Morris, from Nov. 12th to Dec. 24th, Burnside was 
 conducting his campaign against Fredericksburg ; and on Dec. 13th, 
 1862, the sixty-seventh birthday of the illustrious bride of the Dia- 
 mond Wedding, that terrible and useless slaughter took place, which 
 resulted in nothing but the most bloody defeat of the war. Burn- 
 side had abandoned an advantage, and gained a defeat. 
 
 Camp near Fort Ripley. On the 24th of December, the regiment 
 was divided into two battalions. The first battalion, composed of 
 Companies A, B, C, D, and K, were ordered through Georgetown and 
 Washington across the east branch of the Potomac, where at Fort 
 Baker, about two miles from Navy Yards, Col. Pease, as acting Brig- 
 adier-General, took command of that portion of the Potomac defences 
 guarding especially the East Branch Bridge, over which Booth, 
 the assassin, afterwards escaped. The second battalion, composed of 
 Companies E, F, G, H, and I, under command of Lieut.-Colonel 
 White, was ordered from Camp Morris about two mites westward 
 along and towards the Potomac, where the battalion did much of the 
 work of building Fort Ripley and the adjacent forts. The situation 
 was not far from their old camp at Fort Alexander, and from it the 
 Twenty-second X. J. went to the fatal front at Fredericksburg. 
 Knox's duties are light; he is acting Sergeant-major for the detach-
 
 62 A SKETCH. 
 
 ment, and is to have Kendall for clerk. He has details of soldiers to 
 make out, orders to copy, to be present to form the guard at guard- 
 mounting, and at dress parade. The whole great army now, however, 
 was thrown into great discontent and complaint. The Fredericks- 
 burg fight was a terrible shock. They had lost confidence in Burn- 
 side, who had been removed, and only fighting Joe Hooker was in 
 command. The One Hundred and Seventeenth did its share of com- 
 plaining about this time. " What's the use of digging, digging " 
 " We have been half a year in service and are yet only at the Capital." 
 On the first of January, President Lincoln issued the great Emanci- 
 pation Proclamation, which was warmly discussed in the regiment, 
 and found few who thought of it with disfavor. Knox then feared 
 he was going to have a fever, was very weak, with a high pulse, but 
 is soon about again. The holiday barrels of the Home Guard came. 
 They expect to stay all winter in their new quarters. Knox has 
 hardly anything to do after guard-mounting at half-past eight in 
 the morning, and rea<Js Victor Hugo's " Les Miserables." The new 
 winter quarters are built of stockades. He now feels like him- 
 self again, but is constantly taking medicine for his cold, and on the 
 16th, weighs 157 Ibs. The boys who have been at the hospital Linds- 
 ley and H. D. King are back again, and King, Kendall, Miller, and 
 Bobbins are still his tent-mates. They attend church services as 
 regularly as they are held. After five and a half months of life as a 
 soldier, he writes, " I can hardly realize it, the time has passed so pleas- 
 antly and so quickly away." The first Sergeant, for a misdemeanor, has 
 just then been reduced to the ranks, and Knox becomes third Sergeant. 
 The company is proud of their Captain, although he is under arrest for a 
 technical offence. Towards the end of January, the Augusta boys 
 are all well ; William Lindsley, who has been in the hospital two 
 months, weighing 203, and Knox recovered from his cold, weighs 
 159$. He has a visit to Washington the last week of the month, sees 
 Edward Putnam and others. The battalion is reviewed and inspected 
 by Lieut.-Col. W. H. Seward, Jr., on the 30th. On the loth of February, 
 a visit from Uncle and Aunt Talcott, brings him a box of good things 
 from the Talcott cousins. With his Aunt and Uncle he calls on Mrs. 
 Lieut.-Col. W. H. Seward, Jr., at her log-house in a neighboring reg- 
 iment, whom he describes as u a nice little woman, and has one of 
 the sweetest little babies I have ever seen." He seems to have reversed 
 his opinion about kittens and babies. The Talcotts visit too Tom 
 Barton, who is in the other battalion. They have visits of some 
 days long from Mr. Hough ton and Corporal Lindsley's brother, who
 
 A SKETCH. 63 
 
 bring him all the news from Oneida Co. He has now explored Wash- 
 ington pretty thoroughly, and does not think it much of a town. Penn- 
 sylvania Avenue is in worse condition/ than he ever knew Seneca 
 Street in Vernon. However, Frank West and himself attend the 
 President's levee, and have the pleasure of shaking the hand of Old 
 Abe. The rest of the Knoxboro party are too late. Two of the 
 Captains and one Lieutenant have resigned (Feb. 24), and are ordered 
 to appear before a military board, one of whom, Capt. Roys, they 
 are sorry to lose ; and they are on the qui tixe for promotions. His 
 weight is 103 Ibs. Messrs. Kendall, Bobbins, and Beach, from 
 Augusta, pay them a visit with plenty of news and trunks of good 
 things. With respect to promotion, he says March 15, 1863: ' % There 
 are others who are by right entitled to the office of Sergeant-major 
 before me." He will not apply for n furlough till next October, so as 
 to be at the " Golden Wedding " weight 170. During the first 
 week in April, the battalion turn out " en masse," and plant red cedars 
 in front of each tent, giving a proud appearance to the camp. The 
 Chaplain has disappeared from their battalion, but the boys estab. 
 lish meetings Sabbath afternoon and evening, and Thursday evening- 
 He sees President Lincoln and son and the cabinet at a grand Union 
 meeting at the capital. Knox sends his love to Sauchie from u her 
 ^cousin." The winter evenings have been regaled by " Joe " a 
 contraband boy who is full of comicalities and stories and devotion 
 to his absent " Sarah Johnson." 
 
 On April 12, they are ordered to be ready to take the field by the 
 15th, to provide forty rounds of ammunition in cartridge boxes, and 
 sixty rounds for each man in wagons, and seven days' rations in the 
 haversacks. " The c imp is all astir, the men packing knapsacks, 
 the cooks cooking rations, officers making out returns. It does 
 not seem much like a Sabbath at home, though I think that our men 
 are disposed not to break the day any more than it is necessary." 
 " Where we go," he says, " the order does not state it only says, 'be 
 ready to take the field,' whenever that may be. I shall hope for 
 God's blessing to arc >mpany us and lead us safely through every 
 danger." 
 
 3. SUFFOLK, AND THE PENINSULA RAID. 
 
 Their destination was rumored to be Norfolk, and so proved. In tho 
 vicinity of that place, the regiment remained for three and a half 
 months from April 17 to July 30. During that period fighting Joe 
 Hooker in April and May executed his brilliant passage of the
 
 64 A SKETCH. 
 
 Rappahannock at Chancellorville and retreated in defeat, and in June 
 and July the Confederate invasion of Pennsylvania and the battle of 
 Gettysburg took place. Just then, in April, the rebel Longstreet was 
 making a demonstration against Norfolk. He had reached Suffolk, 
 and there was danger of Norfolk Navy Yard and all falling into 
 his hands. Suffolk also protected the north-eastern end of North 
 Carolina. General John J. Peck, of Syracuse, held the command at 
 Suffolk. On the 15th of April, then the Second Battalion marched 
 down Pennsylvania Avenue, exciting general notice and admiration, 
 to transports near the Washington Navy Yard wharf, where they 
 found the First Battalion already arrived. Loud cheers rang out 
 from one to the other as the two parts of the regiment were united. 
 The regiment was now well disciplined, and as many of them were 
 intelligent and fine in physique, it was a vigorous one. Two rivers 
 boats took them up and steamed with them down the Potomac, 
 down Chesapeake Bay into the mouth of the James. Two nights 
 and a day, and they were in Norfolk harbor. Knox's note to his 
 father is wiitten as the Battalion broke up at 2.30 A. M. on the loth. 
 " We leave at daylight, and are to embark at the foot of Sixth Street. 
 The whole camp are up, and we will be made to fall in at a moment's 
 notice. May God go with us and protect us." He had a chance to 
 bid Uncle Jay good-bye in Washington, slept well on the over-loaded 
 and rocking boat, and hid an hour in which to see Norfolk. That 
 city was quiet enough, and the price of articles for purchase just 
 then depended on your answer to the question, u What kind of money 
 do you pay in ? " The troops at once took the cars for Suffolk twenty 
 
 miles away on the Nansemond 
 River. Passing the edge of the 
 Dismal Swamp, the boom of 
 Longstreet's cannon began to be 
 heard above the rattle of the train. 
 The silence of the boys as they 
 alighted, showed they considered 
 the guns quite near enough, except 
 when some wag rallied his com- 
 rade by saying, " Say, Bill, I 
 believe you come to fight, not 
 to dig." As they march through Suffolk the entertainment of 
 novelty was shared by Yank troops and Secesh people, and one 
 little five-year-old in a window, held by a mother, who had given 
 him a Southern description of " the Yankees," said to her, " but
 
 A SKETCH. 
 
 65 
 
 Ma, they are a kind o 1 mans!" The Nansemond River flows straight 
 north to the James, aud was the dividing line between loyal and 
 rebel forces. Artillery resounded and an occasional bullet came whiz- 
 zing before the report of the rifle which sent it. The regiment halted 
 and lay on its arms all night three miles north of the town and on 
 the east side of the river. It has been ordered to hold the extreme 
 right the north end of the defences, and for this purpose they 
 soon move out three or four miles further on a cape known as 
 Gaboon's Point, where they remained nearly a month. Bullets from 
 
 ouses. 
 
 Orchard . 
 
 Rebel Battery 
 5 Pieces. Open field. 
 
 * JfTiere Me 89'.* 
 o Gun floats. 
 
 The house on this side is the one we plundered. The shore of the 
 river on both sides, is lined most of the way with trees near the banks, 
 while back it is cleared and cultivated. 
 
 over the river admonished them not to occupy the extreme point 
 but their superior height a few rods to the rear gave them command 
 5
 
 66 A SKETCH. 
 
 of the Rebel battery opposite. A squad of sharp-shooters is ordered 
 into the rifle-pits, where Knox saw the Rebel sharp-shooters opposite. 
 A head above the breast-work draws a bullet, " which," he says, " we 
 can easily dodge by watching the smoke." Trees concealed their reg- 
 iment from the enemy, and a battery in front protects them. Cot- 
 terel, of the squad, when occupied in cutting down trees in front 
 of the battery, brought a storm of bullets on himself. Five bullets 
 struck in one tree, but he was not hit. They plunder the poultry-yard 
 and a house. One hundred and fifty or two hundred of the 89th 
 N. Y. Volunteers steam down the river in a gun-boat make a dash 
 and capture the battery opposite the important matter which did 
 much to defeat Longstreet's seige of Suffolk. Knox's plan and de- 
 scription, contained in his letter, is on the preceding page. 
 
 The gun-boat " came steaming down as if to run by, but instead, 
 landed in a bend not over twenty or thirty rods above, and in less 
 than fifteen minutes, took the rebel battery, five splendid brass twelve- 
 pound pieces, 150 or 200 prisoners, and a quantity of ammunition. 
 When they made the charge, our regiment were all ready to move 
 and expected to go over. The rebels expected the boat to run by, 
 and were all ready to sink her the moment she arrived opposite their 
 guns, but the men landed so quickly that they had only time to reverse 
 one of their guns before our boys were on them. The gun was double 
 shotted and a rebel pulled the cord to fire it, but it missed, when a 
 Lieutenant shot him through the head. If the gun had been fired it 
 would have probably killed fifty of our men." " The first one of our 
 wounded who came in had his arm shot off above the elbow. He 
 walked along without help, went into one of the negro-houses, and, 
 sitting down, told about the charge as unconcernedly as though he was 
 not wounded. He asked one of the darkie women how old she was. 
 She replied, '80 years old;' when he said, 'he thought she was a 
 young girl, her hair curled yet.' Only one, I believe, was shot 
 dead. The next day we marched to the boat landing, and embarked 
 for the opposite shore landing where the 89th did, just above the 
 Rebel battery. We spent most of the day in throwing up rifle-pits 
 and batteries, and mounted the captured guns and two others. Skir- 
 mishers were sent out, and continued firing was kept up all day between 
 our side and the rebs. William Cassleman, a Vernon boy, was shot 
 in the leg by one of the gray-backs, the ball going through his boot 
 and making a slight flesh wound." " The table in one house was all 
 set, and it was evident that it had been deserted but a short time. 
 Furniture was destroyed, pigs shot, etc. At dark the artil.ery was
 
 A SKETCH. 67 
 
 put on hoard gunboats and they left the place, brought over in small 
 boats which took a long time, and landing in a marsh, they reached 
 their camp at midnight, wet to the knees." Mext day the rebels had 
 the battery again, but did not mount any guns. Kendall was not 
 well and did not go over. Cattle, pigs, sheep, calves, etc., are seized 
 and shot or bayoneted these days for use, and fence wood makes fuel. 
 Six tent together, putting two tents together as one and thus increas- 
 ing their convenience. On the 29th of April, Knox is sent out on 
 picket in command of a squad of fourteen. " Stiict orders to keep 
 a sharp lookout over the river and to report anything important." 
 " I saw some rebs were near the houses we burnt, but they did not 
 make any demonstrations. Kendall is quite sick, and is moved from 
 camp to the house we ransacked. He's improving now, but is not 
 ' tough.' " The standing order just then is, to be under arms from 
 three or four o'clock till daylight, as the rebels may cross the river 
 for attack, and if so, will probably come about that time. " In the after- 
 noon of Sunday the chaplain preached a very interesting discourse, the 
 first one I have heard from him since we separated." On Monday, 
 Knox is detailed with fifty men under him to build a wing on the 
 battery. The paymaster has come and paid them off in the night. 
 Rebel shells come in on each side of camp. On Saturday he has a 
 pass to Suffolk, and dines with Eddie Anderson at the houseofasecesh 
 who inquired " who that Yankee was," after he had gone. A report 
 comes in that Gen. Getty has crossed the Nansemond with 20,000 men, 
 and is diiving the rebels before him. There is heavy firing on Sunday, 
 and also a sermon from the chaplain, in their street. A reb lieuten- 
 ant and sixteen privates are marched past camp captured in a garret, 
 from which they wouldn't come down till they were smoked out. 
 Shortly after this time, in May, Longstreet withdrew. Gen. Peck 
 estimated the rebel loss during the seige at 2,000. The Union loss 
 was trifling. " The woodticks and mosquitoes are a great nuisance, 
 and we fear them more than all the rebels we have seen yet." The 
 troops are despondent these days on account of the ill news from 
 Hooker ' repulsed with great Zoss," the telegram said, at Chancel- 
 lorville. The month afterwards was quiet and monotonous. Long- 
 street had withdrawn from the Nansemond, and the regiment was 
 occupied with fortifying and with moving camp to the rear of Ports- 
 mouth, six or eight miles south of Norfolk. In the first week of June 
 he makes a visit to his Aunt Cordelia at Suffolk, " who was as natural 
 as ever." The 25th N. J. (nine-months men) broke camp (June 4th) 
 with many cheers, and marched to Portsmouth to take transports for
 
 68 A SKETCH. 
 
 Baltimore and thence by railroad to be mustered out. Capt. Stone, 
 of Company B, with thirty or forty men, makes an excursion with 
 two days' rations in haversacks, to impress negroes to work on forti- 
 fications, and brings in about one hundred. Picket duty and pay- 
 master's visit, a swim in the Elizabeth river, the restoration of 
 Capt. Hoys from arrest to command, and his welcome with cheers 
 and illumination, etc., are the little incidents of those days previous 
 to a raid into the enemy's dominions. For this raid, an important 
 one, the orders were three days' rations and light marching order. 
 On Monday, the 22d June, at about four o'clock, they started for Ports- 
 mouth and embarked on the boat " Hero," which had the remarka- 
 ble characteristic of cleanliness. ! The direction was Yorktown, 
 through which place, after landing, they marched, and encamped out- 
 side the fort. Here he saw the house of Washington's Headquar- 
 ters and the place where Cornwallis surrendered. All the Augusta 
 boys are there but West, who is too unwell to come. This " black- 
 berry raid," as the boys called it, from the abundance of blackberries 
 on the route was intended as a demonstration on Lee's communica- 
 tion with Richmond to compel Lee to hold back his forces. The 
 whole Norfolk force was on the Yorktown Peninsula, for Lee's great 
 army was in excellent spirits after the defeats of Burnside and Hooker, 
 and was passing through Maryland and Pennsylvania towards Get- 
 tysburg. These mouths June and July were the most stormy 
 months of the war. At Yorktown the regiment remained from June 
 22d till June 29th. Grant was laying seige to Vicksburg, and Banks 
 to Port Hudson on the Mississippi, the day on which Gen. Meade 
 having superseded Hooker, gathered the main forces at Gettysburg 
 for battle on the next day. The 117th were the first troops which 
 arrived from Yorktown at White House on the York River, from 
 which place the rebels had " skedaddled " the day before. Gen. Wm. 
 Fitzhugh Lee was captured by the llth Penn. on a furlough u at his 
 wife's grandmother's " in citizen's clothes, with a colonel and 120 
 privates, and sent down to Fortress Monroe, and the boys hope to 
 take a Fourlh of July dinner in Richmond. Knox says, '' 1 will 
 write again when we reach Richmond, which we shall surely do." 
 Now began a very severe and rapid march to Hanover Court House 
 on the Virginia Central R. R., one of Lee's communications. In case 
 the expedition should fail to hold a goodly number of Lee's troops 
 at Richmond, thereby reducing his invading army, or to go into 
 Richmond itself, the next object would be to hasten back to tide- 
 water and be available for use at Washington or Philadelphia.
 
 A SKETCH. 
 
 Let the soldier tell his own story of these seven marches, from the 
 1st to the 7th : u Our regiment started out at 8 (two other brigades 
 of our division (Gettys 1 ), had in the night filed past us). Every man 
 
 v 
 
 v /fan over \ 
 \ junction. 
 
 carrii s a woolen blanket, a, few overcoats, while in the brigade before 
 us many had knapsacks loaded. The day is exceedingly hot, and
 
 70 A SKETCH. 
 
 before we had gone three miles I could have picked up 200 or 300 
 blankets, and perhaps 50 overcoats. I threw mine as soon as we 
 crossed the river, and simply carried my rubber blanket and one-half 
 a shelter tent. "We moved through Lanesville, three miles distant, to 
 Jerusalem church, where we halted at two p. M., an hour for coffee, 
 and afterwards passed through King William's Court House, and 
 camped a mile to the north-east in a nice field' of oats." " Sleeping 
 soundly till two the next morning, we were on the march before sun- 
 rise towards Newcastle, passing a sign-board labeled twenty-six miles 
 to Richmond. The darkies at every house flocked out to see us we 
 made quite a show three brigades of infantry, three six gun bat- 
 teries, four or five companies of cavalry, followed by a line of wag- 
 ons a mile in length. Shortly after noon we halted a few moments 
 in front of the splendid mansion of Col. Fontain, who, the nigs said, 
 had left with his family the day before. House and furniture were 
 made a perfect wreck in a shorter time than I take to tell it. About 
 a mile from this place we camped in a cornfield, which the boys 
 pulled up for beds (as they had wheat and oat straw the night before.) 
 The next morning, at eight, we moved on till noon and stopped near 
 a large flouring mill for dinner. Near by was an ice house ; many of 
 the boys broke up the ice fine enough to put in their canteens. After 
 we left the mill two or three miles in the rear, a long halt came, 
 then a forced march till half past ten without a mouthful to eat. 
 This was the longest and fastest march that we had, and the number 
 of stragglers was large, the last three miles of the roadside be : ng 
 lined with those who had fallen out. With great exertion, I remained 
 in the ranks and went through with the company, though four of our 
 Augusta boys were un ible to stand it! The next morning was the 
 glorious Fourth, the day on which came the news of the fall of 
 Vicksburg and the victory at Gettysburg, and on which Governor Sey- 
 mour stood in the Academy of Music in New York delivering his pol- 
 ished indictmenta^ms( the Union and our brave boys in the field 
 and was celebrated in rather a different manner fr m that day last 
 year. We arose just as the sun began to shine, and after roll-call I 
 wmt out, and after eating lots, brought in a quart of blackberries for 
 breakfast, which being dispatched, we fell in and proceeded to Han- 
 over church over the Pamunky, leaving everything behind us except 
 our arms. After mnking our coffee by the wayside, and stuffing our- 
 selves with blackberries, our brigade being held as a reserve, went 
 on picket, while the other two brigades continued on to Hanover 
 Junction (where the two rail roads cross t'le Virginia Central and
 
 A SKETCH. 71 
 
 tLe Richmond and Fredericksburg), also a battery of field artillery. 
 Here they found the rebs strongly fortified, having seige guns planted, 
 and were opened on by then, but the range was not accurate enough 
 to do any execution. Our company were posted along the rail road 
 running from Richmond to the Junction. I occupied a central post 
 and had an opportunity to sleep part of the night, but was rather 
 restless at first; being very much fatigued I lay down on a wide tie, 
 crossways of the track, using one of the rails for my pillow, and with- 
 out any covering slept well till towards morning " Here they were able 
 to accomplish nothing. The expedition was not intended to be 
 strong enough to construct seige fortifications. And next day they 
 started on a rapid and terrible march in retreat, in which on halting, 
 not more than ten per cent, were able to stack arms, and which our 
 soldier thus describes : " At dawn we were called in, and after a 
 hasty breakfast, began to retreat the other brigades having gone 
 before us. As we cams to the bridge over the Pamunky we found it 
 all reidy to fire, being piled along each side with dry material. 
 Here we saw the wounded and a few prisoners. From thence we 
 made a very rapid march of five or six miles the sun being very 
 hot when we bivouacked and waited till six o'clock, then were on 
 the move again and marched till two A. M. the next morning, making 
 some seventeen miles and arriving at Aylettes, which place had been 
 burned by the cavalry and presented a doleful appearance. This was 
 the hardest march of all. I led the company the orderly having 
 given out in the morning and I came in at the head, though we 
 had only thirteen men in the ranks when we came to stack arms, 
 Lindsley and myself being the only ones from our squad. I s'ept 
 under a tree till morning, and after breakfast came nine miles to 
 King William's Court House and bivouacked, it raining hard mean- 
 while, and we without any shelter not having received our things 
 yet, though they came soon, and we pitched our shelters and slept 
 soundly till morning. 
 
 " 7th. After a five o'clock breakfast we started once more and came 
 back to the White House, arriving at ten o'clock and camping on our 
 old ground, hoping to remain a day or two to rest and then take 
 transports to Portsmouth, but no such good luck was in store fr us, 
 for it was soon rumored that we would have to march at least as far 
 as Yorktown, which report soon obtained credence from the fact of 
 the sick being transferred to the Hospital Steamer ." John Brooks.'' 
 Sure enough at two A. M. the next morning the drum sounded, and 
 we prepared our coffee and were soon ready to go but did not till
 
 72 A SKETCH. 
 
 nine o'clock, when we came to New Kent over the most horrid roads I 
 ever saw in my life. Artillery got mixed, baggage wagons were in mud 
 up to the axle-trees, several were bioken and left behind, being de- 
 s.royed before. At New Kent it rained for an hour in torrents, and 
 we got a good drenching ; afterwards we came three miles and camped 
 for the night, but were off again the next morning, going five miles 
 and halting for coffee. The morning was very warm and we marched 
 very fast, besides our hard-tack had nearly all been eaten, and we 
 were rather hungry, with no prospect of drawing any rations till the 
 next day. Some of the boys came across two good fat three-year- 
 olds, and asked Col. White if they might drive them on and butcher 
 them at night ; he replied, ' Yes, and all others you come up with ' 
 In the course of half an hour we had a drove of a dozen or more 
 good fat steers, when Col. Alford in command of the brigade, rode up 
 and ordered them to be left. We camped at sun-down near a berry 
 field, and had berries and coffee for supper. 
 
 " Wth. Tip early and marched three miles without any breakfast 
 to near Williamsburg, where we received fresh meat and hard-tack. 
 As soon as our repast was over we moved through Williamsburg, 
 which is an old dilapidated town of considerable size. I noticed 
 very few buildings that were modern at all in their structure and only 
 one that I would care to live in even if it were situated in New York 
 State. The place seemed to be inhabited almost entirely by contra- 
 bands, though now and then a white face appeared among the throng 
 that turned out as we marched through. About a mile outside we 
 saw the fortifications, and here and there kicked a solid shot or un- 
 exploded shell as we passed along. Halting at twelve o'clock we 
 rested three hours, and then came to Yorktown, arriving at about 
 sunset. The day was exceedingly warm, and the officers did not 
 seem to exercise any degree of judgment in marching the men. I 
 was for once obliged to fall out when only a mile or two from the 
 town. 
 
 " llth. We laid in camp to-day and enjoyed the luxury of a salt 
 water bath in the river, which was quite refreshing after a long, dusty 
 march. Sunday morning we were up at three and a half, and im- 
 mediately after breakfast began to move, coming fifteen miles to Big 
 Bethel. This is the place where the 3rd N. Y. had tht-ir skirmish 
 soon after they came out. The old reb earthworks still remain. The 
 march of this day was a hot and fatiguing one, and I was hungry 
 enough, having had only a slice of bread and cup of coffee for break- 
 fast. We left Robbins at Yorktown to go on board a transport.
 
 A SKETCH. 73 
 
 Now we coine to our last day's march ; coming to Hampton and pitch- 
 ing our tents expecting to remain over night and return to our old 
 camp the next day. The officers all understood it so, and many of 
 them were away from camp when an order came for the regiment to 
 be prepared to move in half an hour. I was off eating warm biscuit 
 and drinking coffee, but chanced to return to camp just in time to find 
 the tents all struck and the regiment ready to start. I was ordered 
 to take charge of our company, no commissioned officers being pres- 
 ent, and therefore did so, the boys calling me 'Captain Williams.' 
 Capt. Roys came down to the dock just in time to get on board the 
 boat after we were all on, but Col. White was not so fortunate ; riding 
 up after the boat had swung off from the dock he was unable to get 
 on board, and seemed quite chagrined at it. We arrived at Ports- 
 mouth at about ten o'clock, and disembarking, marched at once to 
 our old camp, coming in in good spirits amid rousing cheers from the 
 boys. We found our camp just as we left it, with our bunks all 
 ready to turn into, which we did with a hearty good will, only one 
 thing tending to mar our enjoyment. Frank M. West, whom we left 
 behind slightly ill, had died during the interval of typhoid fever at 
 Portsmouth. He was a good soldier, and little did we think but 
 that he would join us again on our return. His death cast a gloom 
 over the whole company. He died the 6th, not being conscious dur- 
 ing the last week of his sickness. As to the object of our expedi- 
 tion you have no doubt learned that from the papers, viz. : to destroy 
 a couple of bridges over the South Anna River which we did not 
 accomplish for to us some unknown reason. The fruits of the expe- 
 dition amounted to perhaps twenty prisoners, two being taken by 
 the 117th ; a hundred or more horses and mules, the same number 
 of cattle, besides bringing in with us a hundred or more contrabands. 
 This wonderful feat was accomplished by three brigades of infantry, 
 three batteries of artillery, and a regiment of cavalry, and reminds 
 one of the old couplet, 
 
 " The King of France with thrice ten thousand men, 
 Marched up the hill, and then marched down again." 
 
 " In all, we marched two hundred miles during the thirteen days, 
 making only one halt of twenty-four hours, which left us an average 
 of sixteen and two-thirds miles each day, the longest day's march 
 being from twenty-six to twenty-nine miles. I am still acting First 
 Sergeant, and am kept somewhat busy by my duties. We have not 
 had our rations since we came back, at kast only in part. No bread
 
 74 A SKETCH. 
 
 for three days ; the boys are getting rather out of patience and 
 threaten a bread riot if not supplied soon. We are rejoicing over our 
 recent victories, and am glad that there is a prospect of the draft 
 being enforced. I hope that it will be carried on, even if it costs the 
 destruction of every building in New York City. The rumor is that 
 our regiment is to be filled up from the drafted men. I am well." 
 
 This letter concludes with the llth of July. The very next day 
 the terrible riot began in New York, during which Governor Seymour 
 thought it a good thing to pledge the rioters that the enforcement of 
 the law should be submissive to the enforcement of the mob's will. 
 Depression and discouragement were the result in the 117th as else- 
 where. " The feeling thus excited," says the surgeon of the regi- 
 ment, " were sorrow that our State should be so disgraced, a painful 
 distrust and apprehension, and a just and intense indignation at the 
 audacity of Northern rebels, with expressed wishes for an opportu- 
 nity to fight them." This feeling of discontent was soon relieved 
 by the order to march. Where ? North or South ? Morris Island, 
 below Charleston, S. C. from which place, Knox just then had a 
 letter from his cousin Kirk Talcott, lying in range of the guns of 
 Sumpter has just been captured and occupied by Gen. Gilmore. 
 Thither, rumor says. After a couple of days and nights of bivouac 
 in the streets of Portsmouth, under pouring rain and pouring sun, 
 the transports arrive, and with the regiment turning their heads past 
 Fortress Monroe, and thence seaward, turn the rumor info probability. 
 Two lieutenancies are vacant, and Knox looks for promotion. Tommy 
 Barton is quite sick; about to telegraph for his mother. "1 am 
 sound. It is awful hot." Miller too is sick, and his father has 
 arrived, for the forced marches and fatigues of the Peninsula Raid 
 were the cause of much sickness. Bobbins and Miller were left in 
 hospital at Portsmouth, sick with typhoid fever. Kendall remained 
 to give care to Miller, who was delirious. 
 
 IV. FOLLY ISLAND. 
 
 After a vast amount of interml dissension and irrepressible con- 
 flict, arising either from questions of conscience or of stomach, and 
 an escape from an unseaworthy transport at Beaufort Harbor, N. C., 
 to a more substantial and capacious vessel, and an eager anxiety to 
 arrive soon enough to participate in the capture of Charleston, the 
 palmettos came into view, on the 2d of August, and the artillery 
 began to break on the ear. The great artillery duel, which hardly
 
 A SKETCH. 
 
 75 
 
 ceased for half a year, and which they had come to assist, was 'in 
 progress as they steamed in'o the harbor. The rebels on Morris 
 Island, Forts W signer, Sumpter, and Moultrie, the monitors, the rebel 
 batteries of James Island, all excited the attention of the men as 
 they lay off the land. The next day they landed on Folly Island, the 
 very day (Aug. 3d) th;it poor Miller died at Portsmouth. 
 
 Nor was the regiment in good health. Their duties were heavy? 
 and began the very day on which they debarked. Often a hundred 
 were present at sick-call ague, fever, a little later, scurvy, and home- 
 sickness prevailed. The spirits too of those well were lifeless. 
 Laughter and games were little cared for, and the troops were in con- 
 trast with their condition at Camp Morris, D. C. The percentage of 
 death from sickness, however, in the 117th, was lower than in the other 
 regiment. Here the regiment remained, now on Folly Island, now on 
 Morris Island, now on Block Island, now in an expedition against
 
 76 A SKETCH. 
 
 Charleston by way of James Island, f. om Aug. 2, 1868, to April 20, 
 1864. The following map, a sketch in one of his letters, shows the 
 situation. 
 
 OCEAN 
 
 2. This tide of Sampler i a mats of ruins. 
 
 Their camp was now established on Folly Island four or five rods 
 from the shore, where they had the advantage of the breeze, but 
 their work was on Morris Island. About 4,000 men went over to 
 Morris Island, and at dusk marched into the trenches under the fire 
 of Fort Johnson on James Island two miles distant, which was throw- 
 ing ten-inch mortar shells on our troops, beginning every night at 
 dusk and keeping up the fire till daylight. The shells came at the 
 rate of six an hour. There was a large working party erecting seige 
 fortifications against rebel Fort Wagner at the end of Mo.ris Is'and, 
 and the 117th were held as a reserve to protect this beseiging party. 
 They were to sleep under arms. " For a while,'' say's Knox, " I 
 watched the shells as they came over from Fort Johnson, looking like 
 a huge ball of fire thrown high in air, dodging into one of the dug- 
 outs every time I thought there was any danger. I could calculate 
 very nearly the spot where they would burst, so that it was not nec- 
 essary to cover for every one. After a while it became an old story 
 and afforded no excitement, so I wrapped my blanket around me and 
 slept till morning." " Our fortifications," he says, " are all constructed 
 of sand-bags, and are being extended every night, it being imprac- 
 ticable to work during the day on account of the sharp-shooters in 
 Fort Wagner, which is only five hundred yards distant, and being on
 
 A SKETCH. 77 
 
 high ground affords them a fine range to pick off any man that shows 
 himself above the sand bags. All day long we lay in those trenches 
 in the sand under the burning rays of the sun, protecting ourselves 
 as best we could by stretching our rubber blankets over our guns. 
 From our po-ition I could see plainly Forts Sumpter and Moultrie, 
 Castle Pinckney, the Moultrie House, Charleston, and our own mon- 
 itors lying off in the harbor looking like mere dots 0:1 the water. I 
 have said that we were only 500 yards from Wagner, while Sumpter 
 loomed up at a distance of two miles, but still we could see her guns 
 looking over the parapet. Wagner is completely silenced, not a gun 
 being in sight, our sharp-shooters keeping their eyes on the port- 
 holes and the moment a man appears, pick him off. We are mount- 
 ing some very heavy guns, 100, 200, and 300-pound Parrotts every night 
 bearing directly on Sumpter, while we have any quantity of 16, 20, and 
 30 pounders, besides field-pieces, mortars, and one of the celebrated 
 mosquito batteries, in direct range of Wagner. These are all as yet 
 covered, and it is not the intention of our folks to lettherebs know that 
 we have any guns of so large a calibre until the ball begins. The inten- 
 tion is to breach Sumpter with the large guns, while those of the smaller 
 calibre attend to Wagner and other surrounding batteries. Sumpter 
 must fall, though not without hard work, and when the conflict once 
 begins, the world will have never witnessed an artillery duel of such 
 magnitude. During the afternoon one of our gunboats threw six or 
 seven shells directly into Wagner, the ditt flying thirty feet into the 
 air when they exploded. Sumpter also opened a gun or two on us, 
 but without the least effect, as far as I coukl learn. Soon after dark 
 we were relieved, and on my way down I met Kirk (to whom I had 
 sent word at noon by a corporal of tl/e engineer corps that I was on 
 the island). He came along as far as the landing with me, and as we 
 were delayed half an hour there waiting for the ferry-boat, we had 
 quite a visit, and I learned many things in respect to the fortifications 
 and their design that I did not know before. Returning, we reached 
 the camp at ten o'clock on the next morning, where we found a nice 
 lot of hot coffee awaiting us, of which we drank what we wanted 
 and turned in. Since, we have been resting. This afternoon a detail 
 came for 300 men with 24 hours' rations to the same place again, and 
 I have been busy making the detail from our company.'' The army 
 biscuit are mouldy and full of worms ; the beans half the time 
 mouldy, and no fruit ; the water is poor, the color of brandy, and does 
 not make good tea or coffee. " I have gone whole days eating only 
 one or two hard-tack and a cup of tea a day." On Monday morning,
 
 78 A SKETCH. 
 
 the 17th Aug., the Union batteries opened at two o'clock, and the 
 bombardment of Fort Sumpter began. " The gunboats and monitors 
 poured shot and shell into Wagner until they were satisfied, and then 
 withdrew. Wagner replied feebly from her water batteries, killing 
 one of our captains on the monitor fleet, but otherwise doing no 
 damage. Her guns towards our fortifications are about silent, one of 
 which only opens occasionally. Tuesday evening a high wind sprung 
 up, blowing hard and cold, so that the next day the monitors could 
 not work their guns on account of the roll of the sea, but I could 
 hear the 200 pounders on land pounding away all day long, and at 
 sunset Wednesday evening the boys returned, dirty, tired, and hun- 
 gry, having lain in the sand three weary days. One of our boys who 
 has been up on the other island, reports that Sumpter is breached, 
 and has fired only two guns since yesterday morning. Last night 
 the rebs made an attack on our works, coining out from Wagner; they 
 proceeded towards our rifle-pits, but soon met an obstruction in the 
 shape of a horizontal net-work of strong wire erected about ten 
 inches from the ground. They became entangled in this net work, 
 and our batteries poured grape and canister in upon them until they 
 retreated faster than they came, and I think will not be hasty in 
 repeating the experiment of charging on our works. I learn from 
 Lieut. II. that hardly anything is doing in other departments, and 
 that all eyes are turned in this direction. Charleston must fall, 
 though it will be weeks and perhaps months yet. One year ago to- 
 day we left home, and to-day finds us many hundred miles from 
 home, and the rebellion st 11 unconquered, but we do not lose our 
 faith nor despair of seeing the end before long." On the 24th of 
 August, 300 men were detailed to go on fatigue and picket duty at 
 Block Island. "At four p. M. we were in line, having drawn our ra- 
 tions for six days, and marching to Morris Island we were detained 
 some two hours before we could get boats to go up in, having to go 
 through the usual red tape system of military, and telegraph to Gen. 
 Gilmore's Headquarters. At last we procured them, and selecting 
 oarsmen from the different companies, embarked 25 to 30 men in each 
 boat and shoved oif into the stream under the silver rays of the moon, 
 and winding our way among the vessels anchored there, we came to 
 the stream leading through the marsh to our destination. A large 
 scow led us, loaded with two 30-pound Parrotts, intended for the bat- 
 teries there. Our boat lost some and we floated out on a side stream 
 and came very near going down to Secessionville among the Rebel pick- 
 ets. As soon as we found out our rather dangerous position, we turned
 
 A SKETCH. 79 
 
 about, and getting into the right channel came to Block Island, and 
 landed in the mud ankle deep at about twelve o'clock. Going ashore 
 through the marsh six or eight rods wide, we looked about for a place 
 to sleep. Lindsley and I spread our blankets in a little hollow, it 
 raining by this time slightly, and had not much more than lain down, 
 than the clouds opened afresh and it fairly poured. The water 
 drowned us out of the hollow. I placed my cartridge box under me 
 in a dry place for a seat, and drawing my rubber blanket over my 
 head, dozed away till daylight, while Lindsley stretched himself 
 out on a wood pile and made himself as miserable as he could. In 
 that hollow the next morning I noticed the water was six inches deep, 
 a good soft, but rather moist bed. The day passed away and we were 
 kept busy drying our things and pitching our shelters, which the next 
 morning (26th) we had to move to another place. This day we be- 
 gan to fortify ourselves by digging us a boom-proof as a protection 
 from the batteries on James Island, just across from us, if they should 
 chance to open. At evening we witnessed some very sharp firing 
 from our batteries opposite Wagner, and the next day our signal corps 
 received a dispatch saying that our forces had taken from the enemy 
 their last rifle-pit outside of Wagner, and captured eighty prisoners. 
 In the afternoon I borrowed the captain's field glass and reconnoi- 
 tered a little, getting a good view of Secessionville, the reb's bat- 
 teries on James Island and Fort Sumpter. The 28th passed away 
 without anything important happening, if I may except that Linds- 
 ley and I went out and brought in a bushel of nice oysters, which are 
 to be found by the ship load along the banks of the inlets around 
 Charleston. We had oysters stewed, fried, roasted, raw, and, in fact, 
 in almost every style. Kendall came in from Portsmouth looking fat 
 and hearty, but I think a month of fatigue and picket duty in the 
 water and mud up to one's middle, will reduce his avoirdupois. The 
 29th was very quiet indeed, hardly a gun disturbing the silence until 
 towards evening, when six shells from James Island came whizzing 
 through the air and plowed up the earth some few rods in the rear 
 of our companies' tents. Kobody was hurt, however, and I do not 
 think they scared anyone either. I know I was breaking up some 
 " hard-tack," picking out the worms, and preparing them to fry for 
 supper, and paid no more attention to the shells than I would to a 
 little boy throwing peas. One very soon gets accustomed to the 
 sound, and can tell about where they are going to strike. Sunday 
 morning was pleasant and cool. The mosquitoes bit awfully last 
 night and kept half the camp up most of the night. The captain
 
 80 A SKETCH. 
 
 and I came down to the camp and witnessed on our way down an 
 hour's bombardment of Sumpter. Our guns had been quite silent 
 for several days, being rather short of ammunition, but t\vo steamer 
 loads came in a day or two before, and the heavy batteries opened 
 anew, causing the stone and brick dust to fly from Sumpter's walls in 
 perfect clouds. For the last three days the firing has been kept up 
 almost incessantly, but to-day the guns are again silent. I wish we 
 were up on Block Island again, for there we could catch a glimpse of 
 what was going on, while here we see nothing but the dashing waves 
 and the ships out at sea. Our weather for a week or ten days has been 
 quite cool, and sleeping under a good thick woolen blanket I do not 
 find at all uncomfortable. While on Block Island we were at work 
 erecting a battery bearing directly on Charleston, and to draw the 
 attention of the batteries on James Island, put up one night out in 
 the marsh a sham battery of boards covered over with turf. This 
 they opened on and kept up a continued fire at, while we only a few 
 yards from it were planting heavy seige guns. From the island we 
 could get an unobstructed view of Fort Sumpter. I had a good glass, 
 and can truly say that the side towards our Morris Island batteries 
 is a complete mass of brick, stone, and sand, knocked hither and 
 thither by our shells. She opens only one gun at all, and that only 
 now and then by watching her chances. Sumpter is powerless now ; 
 and Wagner we will soon have, and then inch by inch to Charleston ; 
 all that is wanted is time. Everybody seems to have faith in Gilrnore 
 and the big guns. The last mail brought me no papers ; they are 
 doubly interesting here, and you must not forget to mail one novr 
 and then." On Sept. 13th, they were made thrice happy. The pay- 
 master had come, a box for his chum from home and he had a piece 
 of cake fresh from Oneida county and a full mail. Vegetables and 
 fruit have been so scarce, that the hungry soldiers are raving for pay 
 and for the sutler's tent. Fort Wagner meanwhile had fallen, and a 
 detail of men from the regiment, among them, Knox, Kendall, and Rob- 
 bins (just returned), went np and lay in the fort one night. Batteries are 
 being erected on the tent end of Morris Island, and are expected to make 
 short work of Fort Moultrie and the other batteries on Sullivan 
 Island. He sees no signs yet of being present at the Golden Wed- 
 ding. Thanks, however, to an allotment, he gains a furlough for a 
 month or six weeks, attending with us the Golden Wedding, contrib- 
 uting to our satisfaction and pleasure, by the evident growth of phys- 
 ique and character to which he had attained. Still his health had 
 been affected, and his usual ambition was not quite so firm as before.
 
 A SKETCH. 81 
 
 Having contributed his share to these glad festivities and paid visits 
 to his friends in Oneida Co., he hastened back to New York on the 
 16th Get, in company -with Capt. Brigham, the major, etc., detained six 
 houis near Hudson, by an accident in which engine, tender, and bag- 
 gage car were piled up in the water at the foot of an emba-iktnent, 
 and every car but his own, the last one, off the track. Wonderful to 
 tell, no one was hurt. Finding Aunt Cordelia and family at No. 3 
 Hamilton Place, and seeing the sights in New York, he sailed on the 
 " Arago " on the 20th of November, for Hilton Head. He confesses he 
 could not help feeling a little homesick, when he could get no state- 
 room, and after seeing as the last thing Ed. Anderson on a high post 
 at the end of the pier, he then turned in on the bare boards, the poor, 
 brave boy ! Sunday on board he could not but contrast with the 
 Sabbath of the week before. Fifty head of cattle were on board, 
 ami a schooner in tow loaded with cattle and hay. On reaching Folly 
 Island, two days before Thanksgiving, he found quite a change new 
 tents, the camp yard levelled and cleaned, the squad with two tents 
 tog. tin T, a good floor, and a fine stove with an oven ; the men looking 
 more healthy and not quite so agreeable, himself choused out of the 
 office of first sergeant by the action of a new lieutenant. However, 
 he is willing to appeal by force of character for justice. " Keep up 
 grod cheer,' 1 he writes; " may God bless us all and bring us together 
 aga n is :v.y earnest prayer." Col. Pease too has resigned, his resigna- 
 tion reaching the camp, it may be, before Knox departed in Septem- 
 ber. Indeed he had not gone south at all with the regiment. Heart 
 di> ase had prevented his full service, though to most of the regi- 
 ments always an acceptable office. Lieut.-Col. Alvin White was in 
 command. Thanksgiving on the 26th, was celebrated in camp, near- 
 ly the entire 117th regiment coming to hear Chaplain Crippen's patri- 
 otic and religious discourse, the drum corp*, the brigade band, the 
 vocal choir, rivalling each other in mu-;ic, and all joining in the grand 
 old h\ mn, u My country, 'tis of thee." The squad had dinner of 
 stewed beef, potatoes, and tea, and Knox thought of the roast tuikey, 
 chickens, etc., of the table at Rome, where his father and mother cele- 
 brated the day. " Lindsley got up a very good dumpling for dinner, 
 with bread and apples cut up and boiled together in a bag, with a 
 sauce of sugar, water, and flour, seasoned with spice." Beach and 
 Lindsley have been exempt a week from s< re throat. Gray, King, 
 and Kendall, who went out to the Long I land on picket duty for five 
 days, have been gone three or four weeks, and have not yet been 
 relieved. He admits that the good things at home have spoiled him
 
 83 A SKETCH. 
 
 for a soldier's life for a little time, and he cannot bear the thought of 
 being sick again so far from home. He feels more the impo:tance of 
 living each day a Christian life, responds to his mother's suggestion 
 that '' we study the Bible 100 little," by saying, u it is quite true, but 
 the little Testament you gave me shall be ma le my guide, 1 ' and his 
 prayers are that God will give him grace to resist all evil, and keep 
 him from sickness and death, and bring him home once more. Boxes 
 and barrels of apples are most welcome, and half dispirited from a 
 weak condition of body, the year wears to a close. 
 
 The boys complain of the severe discipline of the " regular " Gen- 
 eral Vodges. Knox acts as second quarter-master sergeant (Dec. 
 16th), and has a good horse to r'.df, and meals at quarter-m Aster's 
 quarters. Sergeant Erwin, with Col. White, is gomg on a recruiting 
 party to Oneida Co. He is now feeling pretty well, with the excep- 
 tion of a sore mouth, weighs 148 or 150, and is, he thinks, on the 
 gain. Kendall has been baking, i.nd has made eight plump apple 
 pies with nice brown crus's, and they taste real good. A deserter, a 
 New Hampshire boy, is shot on Morris Island. He is hoping again 
 for promotion by appointment of Gov. Seymour, '" though, 1 ' he says, 
 " shoulder-straps do not make a man." However, the quarter-master 
 reports on Christmas day that several promotions have been made, 
 among them Charles Bailey, Commissary-Sergeant now Dr. Charles 
 Bailey, of Bloomfield, N. J. to second-lieutenant in 24th 1ST. Y. Artil- 
 lery, and himself to second lieutenancy. A gill of whiskey was an 
 extra Christmas ration. Some soldiers bought up their comrade's 
 rations and got merry, but Knox writes, ' I dicl not draw any rations 
 or taste a drop." Some of the officers have a high time in the lieu- 
 tenant's tent, over whose promotion a cheer was attempted, but no one 
 responded. The lieutenant promoted to captain, is soon transferred 
 to another company, to the pleasure of Co G, who receive Capt. Ker- 
 rigan, lately promoted. Lieut. Erwin, promoted from second to first 
 lieutenancy, son of Rev. Mr. Erwin, of Rome, is assigned to Com- 
 pany G. On the 27th, h : s commission arrives. The quarter-master 
 just at this time is ordered under arrest. Henry King al-o tries his 
 hand at green apple pies, and proves himself a genius like all the 
 Augusta cooks, and buckwheat cakes come in with the new year. 
 Their gingerbread, however, would make good bullets if only in the 
 proper shape. He finds that after obtaining his N. Y. State commis- 
 sion, he cannot be mustered into the U. S. service until the company 
 has eighty men. Lieut.-Col. White had already held his commission 
 as colonel for two or three months, but cannot be mustered in as col-
 
 A SKETCH. 83 
 
 onel, simply because the regiment Licked four mun. The major, too, 
 is waiting to be mustered in as lieutenant colonel, and Capt. Meyers 
 as major for the same reason. Therefor.- hurry up the recruits at Ver- 
 non, Elmira, etc. Kirk Talcott he finds within a mile of him looking 
 well, and he h niself begins now to look belter and feel better, having 
 received his lieutenant's commission Jan. 6th. "This climate, 1 must 
 confess, does not agree with me as well as faither north, and though 
 I am not what they call unwell, still I lack that strength and vigor 
 that I used to enjoy a year ago." Kirk sends up an invitation to 
 attend a course of lectures on Shakespeare, by Chaplain Hudson, of 
 the engineer corps. Kirk is, however, ordered to Fernandina, Ha. 
 While Knox is at the headquarters of the reg ment, the company are 
 ordered as gu ird to General Terry's headquarters, who now lias com- 
 mand of the whole island. " The boss,'' he says, " are finely s tuated 
 there, having the best quarters, as a general thing, that they have had 
 since we first came out. Our Augusta squad, of whom there are culy 
 five, Kendall heing here in the adjutant's office, and Beach in the 
 hospital, occupy two tents in which they have a nice floor of matched 
 lumber, a good table, and everything as comfortable as they could 
 wish for without much duty, being on guard only ona in every four 
 days. They have one thing which I should prize more than all their 
 other comforts, and that is a spring of good water. I filled myself 
 full, besides bringing back with me a couple of canteens of the pre- 
 cious liquid. It makes splendid coffee too, better than I have drunk 
 since we came off the Peninsula inarch. I think it will pay me to go 
 down once in a while if for nothing elss but to get a drink. An 
 order came to-day for the enrollment of a'l citizens on the island, 
 including negroes. It is one of the best orders that has been issued 
 lately, and makes some of these citizens who have come from the 
 north to escape the draft, shake. It seems a pity to kt this favorable 
 weather pass by without doing anything towards the reduction of 
 Charleston. It seems to be generally conceded that the city will not 
 fall unless some force can be brought to bear in the rear." The rumor 
 now is, at the end of January, that there is to be a land demonstra- 
 tion against Charleston from Hilton Head, perhaps to cut the Charles- 
 ton and Savannah R. R. On a call on the boys of Company G, Knox 
 finds them all well but Lindsley, who is not feeling very bright, and 
 Beach, who is in the regimental hospital, ^ome of them are doing 
 guard duty over three rebel deserters who came over from James 
 Island a few days before. The first week of February the camp was 
 astir to obey the order to embark at Stono with three days' rations.
 
 84 A SKETCH. 
 
 Rumors fly thick and fast concerning their errands. Several other 
 regiments and their batteries accompany the 117th. Knox is languid 
 and weak, and does not go. Watson Beach is in the hospital ; his 
 disease threatens a chronic form. The most creditable rumor is that 
 they have gone to " Kio," or u Kiaubia " Isl.md near Charleston, to 
 draw attention, while a larger force is under Gilmore moving in 
 another direction. The expedition did accomplish this design. 
 Five or six thousand troops under Gen. Sehemmelfineng crossed Stone 
 Inlet to Kiaubia Island, marched all night and all day to Edisto Inlet, 
 crossing in water about the freezing point, waist deep, to Seabro :k 
 Island, through pine woods and swamps and deserted plantations, 
 then to Little Island, where they caught the enemy napping, where 
 they called off a sufficient number 1o measure fo:ces, and from which 
 they retired, destroying bridges and houses. Six new recruits came in 
 fromlltica, but not enough to give him his muster. Chaplain Crippen 
 now gives his farewell address, resigning on account of ill health. 
 " Grandmother's apple sauce " is " first rate." During the last of 
 February all the troops were ordered to Jacksonville, except the small 
 biigades, which would have been in danger, were it not that the 
 rebel lines were proportionately weakened. Kendall and Knox go 
 down on Sunday to Company G; attend episcopal service in a beau- 
 tiful little gothic church of the 169th regiment. Mother's box.fiom 
 home, which she thinks " not much," is most acceptable and thor- 
 oughly enjoyed. Gen. Vogdes has returned, and gone to Jackson- 
 ville, Fla., to relieve Gen. Seymour. As the weather grows warm he 
 is well again, but it is "awful dull' 1 on the island, so rainy o r the 
 troops have gone to Florida. The regiment guard a line three or 
 four miles long. He calls going down to Company G fiom head- 
 quarters, going home to see the boys. In March, two or three cases 
 of small-pox occur. It had prevailed in the negro hospitals before, 
 and vaccination is administered through the camp. Cotterel, who 
 has not had the disease, but whose arm is "working," is employed as 
 nurse. Two men in Company G have the disea c e; one of them after- 
 wards died. The first number of the " Canteen," the journal of the 
 Sanitary Fair at Albany, where his father and mother are visiting, is 
 received and drained dry, and his father's plans for cottomzing flax 
 discussed in a letter. In March, more recruits came in squads. But 
 the hospital boys, who, in Knox's opinion, ought to go home, are only 
 ordered to a general hospital. Knox thinks them wasting ounce by 
 ounce, especially Watson Beach. Later he says, this order will be a 
 great disappointment to them, and will discourage them from getting
 
 A SKETCH. ' 85 
 
 well. Among those intending to go, are Willard Bates, Albert Til- 
 lotson, Fred. Law, and Nelson Beach; all confined with chronic diar- 
 rhoea. The months are passing away with issuing rations, gathering 
 oysters by the cart load, fighting tlie fleas, watching his vaccination, a 
 moonlight ride in Gen. Terry's pleasure boat, the crew of which was 
 from Co. G, the rescue of the captain's life by Co. A, rumors of orders 
 to North Carolina, and last and most satisfactory, the reception of re- 
 cruits enough to admit his promotion, and the enioyment of restored 
 health. Knox says, '' My discharge papers have gone in, anil I am await 
 ing their return to become a citizen once more, only to enlist for another 
 term of three years, unless sooner discharged. My prospects of see- 
 ing this rebellion closed are good if my life is spared. I rather fancy 
 the idea of remaining the lengthened term. Since I have recovered, I am 
 perfectly contented, uiy weight now exceeds 150, while at home it was 
 only 12 V They get papers, tracts, etc., from the Christian Commission, 
 and one of the clergymen declares that the 117th is the most intelli- 
 gent regiment which he has met. " The circular letter will be, I have 
 no doubt, a good thing, but I think it will run off the course after a 
 few times round." The hospital boys on the entrance of April, were 
 sent to the general hospital, probably at Beaufort, N. C. On the 6th, 
 lie is mustered out and in again, and the sergeant becomes the lieu- 
 tenant and appears in all the dignity of soldier straps, his commis- 
 sion dating from the day when the recruits filled up the company, 
 March 19th. Nor does he lack interest in religious things. They 
 have no chaplain, but a prayer-meeting is held in an ordnance 
 building; and on picket, one of the men tells him some religious 
 interest is manifested, and of a conversion. He hopes for another 
 Chaplain soon. On April 12th, comes an order to move us soon as 
 transportation can be provided ; and the new lieutenant is ready to 
 go whithersoever the unknown destination may prove to be. Their 
 destination proves to be Fortress Monroe, and the Gloucester Point 
 oppo-itc Yorktown, which they reached on April 24, 1864. 
 They had left behind, the palmettoes, the giant fleas, the punkies 
 and mosqnitos, the sickly island, and come in good spirits to join 
 the cooperating forces under General Grant. 
 
 V. CITY POINT AND PETERSBURG. 
 
 Stirring times now awaited the regiment. Five months now inter- 
 vened before that last battle was fought in which our gallant boy fell 
 from April 24th to Sept. 29th. The autumn and early winter which the
 
 86 A SKETCH. 
 
 117tb had spent before Charleston, had been spent in Virginia in a 
 campaign ot manoeuvres under Gen. Meade, the later winter in \\inter 
 quarters. Nothing seemed to be gained. The hero of Fort Donald- 
 son, of Shiloh, and of Yicksburg had been coming into prominence, 
 and it was with great satisfaction that on the 10th of March, 1864, 
 the whole North received the nomination by the Pre-ident, and the 
 confirmation by the Senate, of Gen. Grant to the command of the 
 whole army of the United States. The object of Gen. Gra-it was not now 
 the capture of Richmond, but the destruction of the Confederate army. 
 His plan was the concentration of forces on Lee's army. Thirty 
 thousand men in two army corps, undtr General Butler, were to ascend 
 the James River. Gilmore commanded one of these corps, in which 
 was the 117th. General Sigel, with 17,000 men, was to hold West Vir- 
 ginia, threaten the Virginia and East Tennessee R. R., and advance 
 up the Shenandoah Valley. Grant himself was to make the overland 
 advance towards Richmond. Under Butler, then, conies Gilmore's 
 command, which now is remaining at Gloucester Point for a week. 
 The 117th had but reached its camping ground, when rain ?et in, 
 when, hungry and wet and without supplies, the hospitable 48th N. Y. 
 came over with hardtack and coffee. The 169th N. Y. came in, in the 
 same condit'on afterwards, when the 117th did them a like service. 
 It becomes apparent to the common soldier that a great fo'ce is con- 
 gregating and moving on Richmond. On the 30th of April, a brigade 
 of live regiments one of which was the 117th proceeded up to the 
 head of York River on the eastern side of the Yorktown Peninsula 
 to West Point. On the n'ght of that day Knox was aioused by the 
 cry of " a man overboard.'' He was picked up by a boat lowered for 
 him, and proved to be Capf. Egbert Bagg, bi other of Dr. M. M. Bagg, 
 of Utica. He was quartermaster at the enlistment of the regiment, 
 and was so fir from being drowned, that he lived to command the 
 regiment in the battle in which Knox fell, .and in three other battles, 
 and was promoted lieutenant-colonel for gallant conduct at Fort 
 Hunter in January, 1865. One of the regiments in the brigade ad- 
 vanced some ten miles without opposition, showing that the rebels 
 vere otherwise occupied. The expedition was, however, only a 
 feint, designed to draw oft attention, a id after two or three days 
 the whole brigade re-embarked for the James River. On the 5th of 
 May, 1864, the day on which Grant crossed tl>e Rapidan, and the 
 Bloomfield <lomi ie moved from Morristonn into his new parish, the 
 troops were steaming down the York River, rounding old Point 
 Comfort, and proceeding up the James. The river as they approach-
 
 A SKETCH. 
 
 87 
 
 ed City Point, which had just been seized by a complete surprise on 
 the morning of the Gth was alive with transports, firryboats, armed 
 \vs-ds of every kind, iron-clad monitors, etc. A gunboat was that 
 day blown up by a rebel torpedo. The point itself, made by Appo- 
 
 raattox and James Rivers, was filled with landing and moving troops, 
 puffing engines, braying mules, neighing hordes, sounding bugles, 
 rolling drums, and rumMe of baggage and artillery. A body of troops 
 had been advancing too on the other (north) bank of the James River.
 
 88 A SKETCH. 
 
 So soon as the 117th landed they were pushed over the Appomattox 
 River in a force of 20,000, to seige the peninsula known as Bermuda 
 Hundreds, and to strike and d( stroy the Petersburg and Richmond 
 R. R., one grand source of supplies for Richmond. On the 7th, the 
 regiment participated in tearing up the track of the railroad, and 
 had Butler moved on to Petersburg, he probably could have taken it. 
 On the 9th, the regiment were at Charter Station, -within fourteen 
 miles of Richmond. Lee, astounded by the strength of the movement 
 up the James, occupied as he had been with Grant's terrible pounding 
 " in the wilderness," telegraphed for Beaui egard and all his forces 
 from Charleston. By the 9th, the reinforcements began to arrive, and 
 to press back our army from the range of the railro id. On the 16th 
 occurred the terrible battle of Drury's Bluff, in which the 117th played 
 no unimportant part, Beaurcgard pouring in a heavy fire through a 
 denss fog. The 10th Army Corps, composed of the 117th, was under 
 fire, and when the command was given to retreat, the brigade in 
 which was the 117th was thrown in to defend the retreat. Bullets 
 came thick as hail ; Lieut. Casselman and Capt. Brigham were fatally 
 wounded ; Col. White was wounded. When the enemy had nearly 
 surrounded them, the order came to retreat. " The regiment dashed 
 through the breach, re-formed under fire, and left the field in line," but 
 it ha1 lost some eighty-nine men. Intrenchrnents were thrown up, 
 holding Bermuda Hundreds, but losing hold of the Petersburg and 
 Richmond R. R. All this occurred while Grant had been fighting six 
 days in the wilderness, and had sent, on the 16th, his dispatch, " I 
 propose to fight it out on this line if it takes all summer," and while 
 lie was contesting the ground of Spottsylvania. Where now were our 
 Augusta boys in this fierce fighting ? Knox, left behind by the doc- 
 tor's orders, had been required to report to the provost-marshal with 
 thirteen men placed in his care ; and was put in charge of men re- 
 turning from hospital, and details of men for unloading a vessel 
 and building a dock. On the 8th, he went on a tug to Harrison's 
 Landing for cavalry. He was trying in vain to get away and to join 
 his regiment, and on the 13th, ends his letter thus: "Hoping that 
 God will spare my life. I will close." On the eventful 16th, he writes: 
 " Two or three hours since I arrived in camp having come up from 
 Bermuda Hundreds in charge of a small squad of men from our 
 brigade. Before I started, all the morning long, heavy cannonading 
 could be distinctly heard, and I knew that a battle was in progress. 
 Shortly after I reached here, Col. White came in, having received a 
 sl'ght flesh wound in the shoulder. He lost the regiment, and there-
 
 A SKETCH. 89 
 
 fore returned to camp. His -wound would not have sent him in. 
 Since then, quite a number have come in slightly wounded, and I 
 presume many others have gone to the Corps Hospital, or have been 
 conveyed in ambulances to the river, and then placed on board 
 steamers. Of the officers, quite a number are wounded. Capt. 
 Brigham has a wound in the hip, not serious ; Lieut. Casselman, 
 it is supposed, cannot live, having received a bullet through his 
 bowels. Others are reported to have received wounds, but you are 
 not acquainted with them. Of the Augusta boys, two are wounded 
 that we know of. Corporal Gray very slightly in the shoulder. He 
 was wounded the day before yesterday, and has been assisting others 
 who were worse off since. Robbins is slightly wounded ; Lindsley 
 is safe and in camp ; Cotterell was with the company the last he was 
 heard from ; King (Henry) was left at Gloucester with a sore leg, to 
 be sent to Fortress Monroe. I have not been able to learn anything 
 concerning Albert Shearman, but presume he is safe. The regiment is 
 somewhat cut, but I think not many are killed. Only the wounded, 
 and those who assisted tttem in, are in camp. Our forces have been 
 driven back some distance to within the intrenchments. The rebels 
 were reinforced by two brigades during the night. The 117th 
 charged on a battery several times, but were repulsed each time. 
 They are reported to have fought well, but the rebels were intrenched 
 while they were in an open field. A great proportion of the wounds 
 are slight, and in the hands and arms. I may go out to the front in 
 the morning, but do not yet know. "We shall hold our position now. 
 I write in great haste, knowing you will be anxious to hear. My prayer 
 to God is that we may be victorious. Do not worry about me ; a kind 
 Providence is directing every event. Later : Capt. Brigham has just 
 been brought in ; he is easy : his wound has not yet been dressed ; 
 Charles Law was killed; Newkirk is wounded through the arm bone 
 fractured; Antone Lorenzo is wounded severely; Gris wold was seen 
 to fall, and has not since been heard from ; McLean is missing. Capt. 
 Brigham, after being wounded, shouted to his Co., ' Go in, boys, give 
 it to them; I am hit, but not conquered.'" On the 15th, he went in 
 charge of sixty-seven men, to report at department headquarters. A 
 few of the men found their regiments for all the regiments were at the 
 front and Knox had to bring the rest back through mud and rain. On 
 the 16th, when the wounded came in, Gray, Robbins, and Hayward 
 were wounded, in addition to Captain Brigham, Lieut. Casselman, and 
 Col. White. On the 17th, Knox has joined his regiment, in which 
 the morning report gives sixteen killed, one mortally wounded, thirty-
 
 90 A SKETCH. 
 
 four severely wounded, thirty slightly wounded, eight nrssing. 
 McLean, of Vernon Centre, is missing, or has been taken prisoner; 
 Capt. Brigham has died of his wounds. The wounded are sent to 
 Fortress Monroe. During this time Knox is in command of Company 
 E, in respect to which he says, " A responsible position just now, but 
 I will do my best to fill it." In that company, in the morning report 
 is "two killed two severely wounded, two sl'ghtly wounded." "Hay- 
 ward cannot live." " Hay ward of Augusta has been severely wounded in 
 the head, by a piece of a flying shell." On the 18th, at noon, the brig- 
 ade " fell in," marched a mile to the front, rested on their arms, and 
 returned to camp again. On the 19th, they were ordered to the same 
 position at two o'clock in the morning, and returned to camp at noon. 
 An order comes to go out on picket duty, but is countermanded. On 
 the 20th, the regiment are under arms at two o'clock A.M., and at half- 
 past ten o'clock march to intrenchments, and at six o'clock p. M., 
 Companies E, H, and C, go out to a small fort, on which they " work." 
 On the 21st, the regiment lie in the field all day. After getting 
 asleep, a sharp artillery fire opens from our 'batteries for half an hour, 
 during which time the troops are under arms. On the forenoon of 
 the 22d, they lie in the same place, and in the afternoon they go 
 back to intrenchments. 
 
 Butler was now as he said, " bottled up " in Bermuda Hundreds ; 
 that is, the two rivers, James and Appomattox, which curve in folds 
 around three sides of his camp, and protected him from attack, also 
 rendered him powerless to attack. He could still pass the Appo- 
 mattox, and from the south side, seige Petersburg. He made all his 
 preparations to do so, when he was ordered by General Grant to send 
 the greater part of his army to assist the army of the IVtomac, which 
 was now approaching the James at the Chickahominy. There had 
 been further fighting along General Butler's front, on the 18th, 19th, 
 20th, and 21st, with some loss on each side, but with no decisive 
 result. 
 
 Meanwhile Grant had been advancing southward, fighting at Spott- 
 sylvania Court House, from May 8th to 21st ; at the North Anna 
 River, from the 23d to the 25th ; and, at Cold Harbor, was now de- 
 termined to force the Chickahominy River, and force Lee within the 
 intrenchments of Richmond. Cold Harbor was accessible to the 
 York River, and from West Point, where our 117th had been twice 
 before ; and thither, just after the action at Cold Harbor began, the 
 troops from under Butler's command arrived on the 31st. Follow 
 now our regiment to this change of their base ; for we shall find that
 
 A SKETCH. 91 
 
 while they went from the James to the York and Pamunky, Grant 
 was preparing to move from the Pamunky to the James. On the 
 28th of May, the 117th formed, crossed the Appomattox, and took 
 the direction of Petersburg, where they encamped in a wheat field; 
 but next day, by a circuiious route, came back to City Point, whence 
 they sail do AH the James on the S'.ith, round Old Point Comfort, 
 steam up the York again, up the Pamunky, one of the streams which 
 form the York, and arrive at White House on the Slst, while the 
 heavy battle is in progress at Cold Harbor. Knox remained at City 
 Point on the 29th and 30th, with a detail of thirty men, to ship the 
 brigade teams and wagon>. Capt. Hunt returned that day, and 
 Lieut. McGill took command of Co. E, going, I suppose, with the 
 regiment. The regiment marched immediately for the battle-field, 
 and remained in the midst of musketry and shells for nine days. 
 The main battle, in which they did not participate, was not success- 
 ful ; but behind intreucliments, they were exposed to sharp-shooters, 
 so that a hand or head could not appear without bringing a bullet. 
 All day long and all night long bullets whizzed, shells came crashing 
 in, and even the field hospital was shelled by the barbarous enemy. 
 Knox is detained at City Point on the Slst and June 1st, waiting for 
 transportation, while his regiment is at, the front. On Thursday, June 
 2d, he, horses and men are steaming on the propeller " Gov. Chase," 
 down the James, on Friday pass Fortress Monroe at nine A. M., West 
 Point, at the head of York River, at three and a half p. M., and 
 reach White House at night. On Saturday he assisted to land the 
 horses; "saw some 600 dirty rebels ;" learned that his brigade was 
 pplit up, and that his regiment was under Gen. Annis, and had gone 
 to the front yesterday; that Lieut. Dawn fell, a bullet in his chest; 
 and marched till eleven, and camped for the night. On Sunday, the 
 5th of June, he found his regiment ''a mile and a half or so to the 
 front,' 1 and went into the rifle-pits, where Lieut. Charles Bailey visited 
 them. On Monday, Companies E, A, K, and G, worked on rifle-pits, 
 and in the p. M., a flag of truce covered the burial of the dead. On 
 Tuesday, he was in the intrench ments, Co. E occupying a redoubt 
 in front of the regular line. Lieut. Miller, wounded in the leg, was up 
 nearly all night till Wednesday. Wm. H. Servey, of Rome, was shot 
 through the neck, and died in the trenches before he could be got 
 out. and on Wednesday night, the 8th, the regiment returned to their 
 old bivouac, the battle in the field and behind trenches being over. 
 On the 12th of June, Smith's corps that part of Butler's forces 
 which had come from City Point to White House re-etnbarked from
 
 92 A SKETCH. 
 
 White House back to City Point. While Smith's corps tore up the 
 rails from Chickahominy to White House, and shipped them around 
 for use at City Point. Grant's army was moving straight across from 
 the Chickahominy to the James. Lee's attempt to annoy Grant's 
 march, did not prevent him reaching the James. Pontoon and ferry 
 boats were ready. The army was safdy across, and on June 14th and 
 loth, was thunde:ing on the southern approaches to Richmond. 
 Grant, once at Bermuda Hundreds, ordered Butler to push Smith's 
 corps just arrived from the Chickahominy as quickly as possible 
 against Petersburg. Smith at once crossed the Appomattox by a 
 pontoon bridge, and before noon of June 15th, forced the east de- 
 fences of Petersburg ; but there for some unexplained reason, he 
 halted and attempted no decisive attack till next morning. Next 
 morning Lee's veterans were in his front. Had Smith pushed on, no 
 doubt Petersburg would have fallen with comparative ease, our army 
 would have been within intrenchments, and perhaps our brave boy 
 would have been with us to-'lay. Smith's delay turned the whole 
 campaign and protracted Grant's labor into a long seige of ten 
 months. We now follow back the portion which the 117th Regi- 
 ment had, and which our boy had in Smith's movements fiorn the 
 12th to the 16th of June, and in the seige for the next two and a half 
 months, *. e., to the first of September. On the 12th, they moved 
 cautiously from the trenches at Cold Harbor; on the 13th, passed 
 down the Pamunky and York Rivers; on the 14th, pas&ed through 
 an extensive pontoon bridge across the. pass at Harrison's landing 
 and encamped in the rear of the Bermuda Hundreds line; on the 
 15th, crossed the Appomattox on pontoons before daylight, just at 
 which time the brave colored troops in front carried the outer de- 
 fences ot Petersburg. Before noon the 117th formed in the line and 
 advanced through the woods. Now comes the delay. At length in 
 connection with an artillery attack, the line charges across the valley, 
 takes and holds the enemy's works on the heights, Capt. Stevens and 
 Capt. Hunt being conspicuous in the attack. The charge confused 
 and demoralized the rebel troops in their defences. But there, ia pos- 
 session of the outer defences of Petersburg, under the light of a bril- 
 liant moon, stood the regiment waiting for superior orders, looking 
 down on the silent and nearly defenceless city; for the rebel troops, 
 as was evident from the prisoners and dead, were citizens fresh from 
 home avocations. Why they did not go down and possess the city 
 no one can tell. That night the sound of arriving trains was heard, 
 and next morning, 16th, their glasses saw distinctly the incoming tide
 
 A SKETCH. 93 
 
 of gray-backs. Butler tried to cut the Richmond and Petersburg 
 R. R. ; lie did destroy a short piece of it, but was soon driven back. 
 On the 17th, tlie regiment made some slight advance, but lay quietly 
 face to face with the enemy, and such was the sen?e of security, that 
 some of the soldiers walked about on the embankments; one of 
 whom, Capt. J. P. Stone, of Company B, was shot dead with a minnie 
 ball through the head. As, however, the enemy was making a demon- 
 stration against the Bermuda Hundreds line, the regiment and brigade 
 were ordered to support that line. Crossing the Appomattox, there- 
 fore, north-west, they remained five days from the 18th to the 23d 
 on the 23d, exposed to the accurate and fierce firing of the rebel 
 artillery, and then recrossed the Appomattox and lay in the trenches 
 before Petersburg for a month, in m< st difficult and exhausting duty, 
 under breastworks, above which the least exposure of the person was 
 almost certain death ; in scorching heat, in cramped or reclining pos- 
 tnn-s. in lack of cleanliness and exercise, and even with the horrible 
 and disheartening sight of un buried and corrupting dead. Capt. 
 Hunt wus here shot dead, little thinking of danger, and the train of 
 ambulances beaiing the wounded went to City Point almost daily. 
 What about Knox personally? The day Tie/ore he moved for Cdd 
 Harbor, he received the circular letter, and had command of the relief 
 at night, and at the order to move, was detailed by the colonel to act 
 as adjutant on the 13th and 14th, sailed with the regiment to Ber- 
 muda Hundreds, encamping, he says, within a few rods of the ground 
 which they occupied before leaving for "Wl ite House. On the event- 
 ful 15th, he was in the line of buttle, the line lying flat, the shells 
 bursting within a few feet of them, three men of Company G being 
 killed. lie is relieved of the adjutancy, and is with the company. Com- 
 panies D and II were in the action, and his company with the re?t of the 
 regiment advanced and held one fort, till they were relieved; Knox's 
 part of the legiment lay in reserve, throwing up lifle-pits at evening 
 on the liith, the day the colored troo( s took the rebel rifle-pits. That 
 was the day when Capt. Stone was shot, and the next morning they 
 were relieved and marched back to their old camp at Bermuda Hun- 
 dreds. On the 20th he writes, "The enemy in front are quiet, but I 
 understand we are to make an attack on the centre to-night, and 
 move them from a commanding position they now bold. Our right 
 will not be engaged. Trusting that God, who is directing all for the 
 best, will preserve my life and hea'th to the end, I am trying to live 
 each day as one of His children." On the 21st and 22d, he is on 
 picket for twenty-four hours. Great cheers for " Old Abe " and Gen-
 
 94 A SKETCH. 
 
 eral Butler, who ride along the lines. The Johnnies sing in their 
 trenches, and our boys cheer and cry out, " Bully for you. Johnnies/' 
 " Give us another; " " Now come over and get some coffee." < )n the 
 24th, at two A. M., they arrive again in the Petersburg intrenchments, 
 for the purpose of attack during the day. The following affecting 
 record is in his journal : " We go on a charge, and I am in command 
 of Co. B. If I am killed, send my body home and all expenses will 
 be paid. Let Uncle William preach the funeral sermon. My trust in 
 God is firm." However, " after forming in line of battle with fixed 
 bayonets, it was decided not to charge, as they learned that the 
 enemy were in force." There was reason enough to fear the result, 
 for thirty men lay dead and unburied beyond their reach since the 
 17th of June, who fell on the same charge which the 117th were to 
 have made. " Four men, who went out with stretchers after some of 
 the dead, were all shot." The next morning, 25th, they moved into 
 the advance pits. From the trenches he writes to Uncle Jay on the 
 27th, as follows: "June 27th, 18(54, 1st Brigade, (3d, 112th, 117th, 
 and 142d Regiments,) Colonel Curtiss ; 2d Div., Gen. Turner, 10th 
 corps. 
 
 " We arrived here during the night after a hard march, and imme- 
 diately took the trenches, where we have been since. We occupy the 
 front lines, and have to keep well under cover, notwithstanding which, 
 we have liad quite a number wounded. Our pits are lined with hair- 
 mattresses (one of which, worth $40, I am now reclining on), feather- 
 beds, carpets, hearth rugs, mattings, chairs, etc., all (lawful) plunder 
 from a fine residence just in our rear. The weather is very hot in- 
 deed, and we are exposed to the direct rays of the sun, except as the 
 men can shield themselves by fastening up their shelter-tents ; it is 
 almost unendurable. We hope to be relieved to-night. 1 am now in 
 command of Co. H. We have only ten line officers present, one to 
 each Co. Four have been killed and seven wounded, since May IGth." 
 On the 21st, a shell exploded just in the edge of their works, 
 wounding three men in Co. H. Bullets fly thick. On going to a 
 house in the rear after the firing ceased, he could hear the church 
 bells ringing, and the dogs barking in Petersburg. 
 
 " You seem to have formed the opinion," he writes that day to his 
 father, " that I am rather a 'slow coach,' and do not write you as of- 
 ten as I might. If you could appreciate the difficulties we labor 
 under to write at all, living the roaming li'e that we have the last 
 month, I do not think you would be inclined to complain in the least. 
 You may imagine me now, seated on the ground behind the earth-
 
 A SKETCH. 95 
 
 works, with my MOUM-. vc.-t, and shoes off, while the (a bullet just 
 struck the top of the pit, and has nicely sanded my paper, beside 
 knocking dawn considerable dirt over my head) sun pours down about 
 110 or 12o degrees hot. These are the circumstances under which 
 I norw write." 
 
 On the night of the 2Sth, the enemy shelled all night, and he got 
 only ten or fifteen minutes sleep, but no one was injured. On the 29th, 
 he got away to the rear and had a bath, nearly finished muster rolls 
 of Co. B, and went back to the trenches and Co. E. On the after- 
 r.oon of Thursday, the 30th. "An order came for twenty men from 
 the company to occupy the front pits, to pack knapsacks and pile 
 them i p under charge of a guard, as Burton's brigade was to make 
 a charge, and we wire to support them." "God grant that we may 
 come out safe,'' says his diary. " We moved forward while the ball 
 opened on the left of us, and was continued s-ome fifteen or twenty 
 minutes, when the tiring ceased, and we returned to our former posi- 
 tion. I did not learn as any ground was gained. We had two men 
 slightly wounded Friday, July ls f . To-day I went to the rear again 
 to finish up Co. E's rolls, and did not return till after dark, when I 
 found that the regiment had been relieved and moved back one line 
 to rest. After dark, the Colonel received an order to send to General 
 Turner's headquarters for sanitary stores for the regiment, which 
 order was quickly complied with, the detail bringing back a hundred 
 cans of tomatoes, a few pickled onions and lemons, and a quantity of 
 tobacco. 
 
 " Yesterday I received your letter of the 27th ; I was ordered to take 
 command of Co. (J, and am now back with the old bo^s. You at 
 home kn<>w nothing of hot weather. If you want to get a slight idea 
 of huw we are situated, dig a trench out in the back lot, go out there 
 with a piece ot cotton cloth 6x6, take a piece of raw salt pork, a few 
 ounces of coffee and sugar, and a lew hard crackers with a quart cup 
 and canteen; station a few hundred men with rifles fifty rods in front, 
 and every time you show your head have one of them shoot. Keep 
 awake half of every night, cook your coffee in the cup, and eat your 
 pork and crackers ; lay in the sun only shaded by the co'.ton 6x6, 
 and you may form an idea of what lying in the trenches is. This we 
 have done since the 2-'id ult. I am still well. Fresh troops are 
 arriving, and I hope we may be relieved and sent back to Bermuda 
 Hundreds. To-morrow is the 4ih, and I hear it will be celebrated by 
 one of the heaviest bombardments of the war. Heavy seige guns 
 are being placed in position, and when they open, Petersburg will be
 
 9G A SKETCH. 
 
 a hot place to live in. We have a thirty-pound Parrott a little to our 
 right, and that, every few minutes, sends a shell screeching over our 
 heads into the city ; we call it " the Petersburg Express." This letter 
 was written on Sunday, 3d July, on which day a service was held by 
 the Christian Commission in the rear. No great battle, however, took 
 place on the 4th, except that the mortar batteries and sharp-shooters 
 annoyed them, and Thomas Gray was wounded about four p. M. Cot- 
 tere.l and Daball were wounded the next day when the shells flew 
 thick all day and Knox made a report of casualties since June 20th. 
 The next Sunday, 10th, his letter gives the following: "On the morn- 
 ing of the 8th, the three companies in front of our battery were noti- 
 fied that we could move to the rear, as the guns would probably reply 
 if the enemy opened, and it was not safe to remain, in that case. The 
 order was obeyed willingly, and we moved back out of range, and 
 lay till about four p. >i., when suddenly a volley of musketry started 
 us to our feet, the sound of which appeared to come from our regiment 
 front. The Adjutant soon came down with an order for us to take 
 our former position in the trenches, and but a few moments c-lapsed 
 before we were there. On the way in, a stretcher came out bearing a 
 wounded man, and a little further on lay another with half of his 
 head blown off by a piece of shell. These sights are of daily occur- 
 rence, excite only a casual remark, and are passed by. We found that 
 the firing was about equally divided between us and the John R's, 
 they being the aggressors. They suddenly arose from behind their 
 works and fired a volley, which was promptly responded to fiom our 
 side, and then the usual quiet prevailed. If it was their intention to 
 ascertain whether we were in force in their front, I have no doubt 
 that they were thoroughly convinced. As soon as dark came, we 
 moved out to the rear again, being relieved by the 112th. We have 
 wallowed in the dust since, and though at dawn this morning we had 
 orders to pack and be ready to move at a moment's notice. I doubt 
 not that we shall resume our old position again to-night. Just in our 
 rear are the surgeon's quarters, \\here all the wounded in our imme- 
 diate front are brought and the operations performed. I find I can 
 stand by with good nerve and see an arm or leg, hand or foot ampu- 
 tated. 
 
 " Our losses have been somewhat severe for the past two months, 
 but the regiment numbers but a few sick at present, and the men 
 have a strong, healthy look. I am surprised that I retain my flesh so 
 well, and feel in such good spirits. The Sanitary Commission pay us 
 considerable attention. Yesterday a large quantity of canned toma-
 
 A SKETCH. 97 
 
 toes were distributed, which were quite a treat. Our commissary 
 stores are also improving, and we are drawing, now and then, green 
 cabbage, potatoes, etc." 
 
 An accompanying letter expressed that day his religious life: 
 "Your letters are always welcome, especially the religious portions, 
 and I hope you will not infer from my letters that I do not appreciate 
 your care for my temporal as well as spiritual welfare. I well know 
 your feelings, and think that I have good reason to believe that your 
 fondest wishes concerning me will not be hurt by any act of mine 
 I feel more and more each day the importarce of living a firm, con- 
 sistent Christian life; and to the best of my ability, and, I hope, 
 assisted by God's grace, am endeavoring to live as becometh those 
 who have professed His name. I see more and more each d.iy the fol- 
 lies of this world, thrown as I am among those who knowingly trans- 
 gress God's holy laws, and instead of being lured into the same 
 habits, by His grace assisting me, I turn away from them in disgust. 
 You may be assured that I am not unmindful of the duties I owe to 
 my Creator, and that my prayers mingle with yours for grace and 
 protection from all danger. Each day as the sun passes over my 
 head, I thank Him for the mercies of the day, and each morning I ask 
 for freedom from all sin and evil. Your advice will always be cheer- 
 fully received, and if I do not respond as fully as you may think I 
 should, do not attribute it to any lack <>f interest on my part." 
 
 On the 12th, he was surprised by the reception of his promotion to 
 1st lieutenancy, which was by the recommendation of his colonel 
 (White). The commission came and he was mustered in. "I was 
 informed/' he says, "some lime since, that my name had been sent 
 in to Gov. Seymour, but I did not expect so speedy a return." He 
 was mustered in the same day. On the 19th, Wat?on Beach returned 
 from the hospital at Beaufort, S. C. During the first part of the 
 month of July, Early had been making his dash into Pennsylvania. 
 The clerks at Washington were all ordered to be ready to take arms, 
 and Knox says, ou receiving a letter from Uncle Jay, " I should have 
 laughed some, I believe, if I could have seen him in the ranks with 
 & set of accoutrements on. Uncle Jay writes that the Family book 
 (what title does it bear \) is very tastefully got up, and does great 
 credit to Charlie." 
 
 Col. White has resigned ; Major Daggett becomes Colonel. On the 
 24th of July, the circular letter has arrived again. General Ord, 
 during this week, supersedes Gen. Smith in command of the army 
 7
 
 98 A SKETCH. 
 
 corps. Knox goes to the General Headquarters on the 28th, has a 
 look through a glass at Petersburg, and it is live minutes past eight 
 by a church clock in that city. On the last day of July, the regiment 
 marched slowly to Point of Kncks. fifteen men in the division failing 
 with a sunstroke, and six dying, and the Sanitary Commission doing 
 excellent service in distributing ice water and stimulating drinks. 
 Knox has for some time now had a darkie boy to support the dig- 
 nity of his position, who came back from Folly Island with him, car- 
 ries his blankets, does his washing, etc., etc. 
 
 Aug. 1st. '' The photograph of Sauchie is beautiful, but I can't see 
 sending it back." The regiment is encamped in a stumpy field in 
 the rear at Bermuda Hundreds, clearing it up until the 14th of 
 August, going now and (hen to the intrenchments. News comes of 
 the discovery of a rebel mine constructed under the defense at Peters- 
 burg in a place where a party of the 117th had lain, but in which, on 
 suspicion of its existence, a rebel sergeant, captain, twelve men, and 
 two tons of powder are captured. The retirement of the 117th from 
 that position was entirely better than to have been blown up. The boys 
 capture two coons and name them Jeff. Davis and Ben. Butler, but are 
 inclined to think they live together more peaceably than their name- 
 sakes would. He is now in command of Co. G, and is, part of the 
 time, brigade officer of the guard. He thinks no army ever livedbet- 
 ter than ours. News now came of Farragut's capture of Mobile. Butler 
 is now at work on the Dutch Gap Canal, which is designed to make 
 a short cut in the James River, past the rebel battery called " IIow- 
 lett's." The troops from Bermuda Hundreds have mostly departed 
 to the north of the James, but the musicians remain to keep up the 
 routine of army calls to deceive the enemy. Half of their army 
 corps are over the river, and the half in which is the 117th, is left to 
 defend the works. Two rebel deserters come in. Musketry and 
 heavy cannonading are in progress at Petersburg, and on the James. 
 He has received the "Golden Wedding" book, and is much pleased 
 with it. He has a visit from Kirk Talcott, who is on General Foster's 
 staff, who is now in command of that division. 
 
 THE LAST BATTLES. 
 
 We now come to operations which led to the battle in which our 
 hero lost his life. During the progress of these details in Knox's 
 life, already carried into July, Butler had been using a pontoon bridge
 
 A SKETCH. 99 
 
 for two or three months, which he had constructed and secured 
 across the James, from Bermuda Hundreds to Deep Bottom, only ten 
 miles from Richmond, and the line of intrenchments were extending 
 all along the front from Petersburg to Richmond, crossing the Appo- 
 mattox at Port Walthal and the James, near Dutch Gap Canal. 
 The position at Deep Bottom disquieted Lee, and he made one or two 
 ineffectual attempts upon it. Grant then quietly sent out an army 
 corps, from the extreme left at Petersburg to his extreme right at 
 Richmond, and compelled the enemy to fall back, holding Chapin's 
 Bluff as his strong defensive work on the north bank of the James. 
 Sheridan charged on the Bluff and compelled Lee to call off five out of 
 eight divisions at Petersburg to repel Sheridan, when the Grand 
 mine at Petersburg, which had been preparing for weeks, was sprung, 
 blowing a rebel fort and 300 men high in air, and opening a chasm 
 in the rebel fortifications which nothing but delay and stupidity 
 again prevented us from occupying. This was the last part of July. 
 Hancock was ordered to assault again the rebel works at or near 
 Chapin's Bluff ; and a part of the heavy cannonading which Knox 
 had heard across the James about the middle of August, was this 
 assault on the 12th, in which a part of his own 10th corps was 
 engaged, General Birney, corps-commander, though the assault did 
 not succeed. Lee was obliged to strengthen his forces there, by 
 sending troops north from Petersburg ; taking advantage of which, 
 Warren pushed for and took the Weldon R.R., south of Petersburg, 
 one of the chief lines of rebel communication. The enemy came on 
 in force to retake Warren's intrenched position astride the railroad, 
 on the 21st of August. But Warren held fast, and a pause of a month 
 followed, i. e., till about the 25th of September. Then Grant 
 ordered Warren to advance and assault on the left, while Butler was 
 to make a heavier assault on the right. Crossing to the north side of 
 the James River, on the night of the 28th of September, with the 18th 
 corps, commanded by Ord, and the 10th (Knox's) corps, commanded 
 by Birney, Butler struck the enemy's fortifications known as Fort Harri- 
 son, September 29th, at or near Chapin's farm, which he took, capturing 
 15 guns and a considerable portion of the intrenchments Gen. Ord, 
 wounded; Brig.-Gen. Burnham, killed; alas! with the loss also, of our 
 dear boy's life ! He attempted then to take Fort Gilmore, the next fort 
 in order, but was repulsed. This is the general outline. Now let us 
 take up the particulars of the regiment and of our hero's part in the 
 action. The 117th regiment, under Major Bagg, was in the
 
 100 A SKETCH. 
 
 charge upon Petersburg heights, after the explosion of the mine on 
 the 29th of July ; but Knox had been relieved by the doctor, was not 
 able to march, and slept soundly the whole night. On the 30th the 
 regiment marched to Bermuda Hundreds, on which day so many fell 
 out sun-struck, and there remained for defence to relieve the brigades 
 which went over the James and to Petersburg. The new chaplain, 
 Jones, one of the Hamilton College Alumni, arrived here in camp, in 
 company with Ellis H. Roberts, of the Utica Morning Herald. An 
 assault to cut the railroad from Petersburg to Richmond was given 
 up, as the rebels were thought to be in full force. On the 25th of 
 August, the rebels made a sally upon them and captured a'^out 17 
 men and 15 of the 112th regiment, some of whom went, to prison. 
 Knox's account of his part in his diary is, ''This morning the John- 
 nies drove in our picket on my right ; some of my men ran at the first 
 fire, and I was obliged to retreat, the right and two posts on my left 
 having given way. I retreated a short distance to the rear, and rally- 
 ing 8 or 10 men, formed a skirmish line and returned to within a few 
 rods of the old line. After dinner a detail from the 97th Pennsylvania 
 came in and give the rebs a sharp fire. At dusk we occupied the 
 line again.'' A letter gives additional particulars. " I arrived on the 
 line and posted my pickets; the line was very weak, which the enemy 
 must have noticed. At dark we posted our videttes a few yards in 
 advance; and upon going to relieve them at the expiration of an hour, 
 we found that one on my right and one on my left had deserted. 
 We knew not what information they might convey to the enemy, and 
 were on the alert afterwards. The night passed away till between 3 
 and 4, when the enemy suddenly opened upon us and made a charge. 
 I found the line on my right giving way, and a couple of pests on my 
 left had gone, and was obliged to back out myself with 4 or 5 men 
 through a field of fallen timber. There I halted, and rallied 10 or 12 
 men, deploying them as skirmishers, advanced to within about 10 or 
 12 rods of the line, from which I was driven and which the enemy 
 still held. They opened fire upon us, and ordered some of the men 
 to surrender, but I told them to lay low, and if they made any advance 
 to fire. I soon found the left of the line and joined that, keeping my 
 men scouted behind the fallen trees as much as possible. I had several 
 balls come as close to me as I cared Jor, but still did not feel the least 
 fear. After noon a det?il from the 9?th Pennsylvania, came out and 
 deployed, keeping up such a fire, aided by my signal, that the John- 
 nies fell back from the line into their own intrenchnients ; and at dusk
 
 A SKETCH. . 101 
 
 I again took possession of the line, and was relieved at about 10 P.M. 
 I returned to camp and found everything packed ready for a move, 
 and the regiment in the intrenchments, except the cook and a few 
 sick. This morning I find myself a little stiff, but am feeling well, 
 and have to thank an ever merciful God for sparing my life from the 
 missiles of death. The chaplain is writing a communication to the 
 Herald, but I presume my name will not be mentioned, as I was not 
 with the other men from our regi i ent who were driven out and after- 
 wards retook the picket line." Thence they moved toward Petersburg, 
 King close to the Appomattox (25th or 27th ?), where they lay in the 
 intrenchments, and where a shell killed a man in Co. F. Another 
 shell passed not more than four feet over the head of Knox, while he 
 was eating his supper. Another shell so badly injured Henry Miller, a 
 cousin of the Augusta Millers, that his foot was amputated; and a 
 piece of another shell gave a slight scalp wound to Albert Sherman, of 
 Vernon. In the midst of these dangers he is not unmindful of their 
 lessons, and his own words have great significance and comfort, 
 in view of the fact that he had entered on the line in which he 
 fell. " I have great reason to thank God that my life and health have 
 been preserved thus far, and while I pray each day for a continuance 
 of His favor, am trying to live a consistent Christian life, hoping 
 that I may be preserved to return to a quiet home once more. I 
 make many allowances for the future, living, as it were, in the midst 
 of death. I have, however, a consciousness that whatever God's will 
 is concerning me I shall not murmur, knowing that He is an all-wise 
 Being and will do all things well." Deserters came in. Loud 
 cheers were sent up on the 2d of September, along the lines, over the 
 fall of Atlanta, Georgia, under Sherman. Here they remained for 
 the greater part of a tedious month in the trenches and out of them 
 for relieSpwith incidents like the following: "A combat with the 
 Johnnies, who promised not to fire to-morrow; 1 ' the execution of a 
 private which Knox reluctantly witnessed ; Lovell from Westmore- 
 land, in Co. A, instantly kille/1 by sharp-shooting ; Kendall is 
 headquarters clerk, and makes out report of casualties : cheers for 
 Sheridan's victory over Early in Shenandoah Valley ; salute of artillery 
 for the victory; heavy cannonading of Bermuda; drill, etc., and the 
 conversations representative of the time. Three cheers were ordered 
 to l>e given along the lines for the news of Sherman's victory, and 
 right heartily was the order complied with. Right and left, front and 
 rear, went up the loud "hurrahs." The Johnnies replied with a
 
 102 .A SKETCH. 
 
 feeble " Ki-yi," at which our boys laughed and hallooed over to them, 
 "Hurrah for Sherman;" "Where is Hood now;" "How about 
 Mobile ; " and " Why don't you take the Weldon road ; " '' Come 
 over and get some soft bread," etc. " Lately the City Point Railroad 
 has been extended by our troops to meet the Weldon road, and the 
 cars can be distinctly heard as they go rumbling over the hills. One 
 of the Johnnies over the river halooed across the other day and asked 
 what the railroad was built there for, to which one of our boys replied, 
 ' To transport your deserters to the rear.' The Johnnie had nothing 
 to say. Our boys have given several of the rebel batteries names. 
 One over the river threw a shell through a cook's kettle of soup the 
 other day, since when it has gone by the name of ' soup-cooler/ 
 Another is spoken of as the 'Wild Goose,' from a fluttering sound 
 that the shell makes in passing through the air." But on the 28th, 
 orders came to be prepared to move. At 3 P.M. the Brigades and 
 Corps were formed, and started for Deep Bottom, and on the 29th, 
 arrived at Deep Bottom at half-past 2 A.M. ; slept an hour, when they 
 awoke. The last words of his diary a;e "went to the front.' 1 ' 1 Colored 
 troops were in the van, and their progress was disputed before they 
 had advanced a mile. They carried the first intrenched line of the 
 enemy. A second line was carried by them, and then the colored 
 troops were withdrawn. A skirmish line was then formed from the 2d 
 Division, and the whole force marched rapidly forward. It was about 
 four miles to the next line. The troops of the Division were in three 
 successive lines, and were making their way through thick woodlands. 
 A rebel battery soon poured in a fierce fire from a height ahead. As 
 the 112th were about to charge it, the rebels withdrew it. Here as 
 they halted, his company gathered about him as he sat on a log ; 
 he encouraged them to do their work bravely, saying something like 
 this : u Boys, keep cool when you are ordered to charge, artHrfeel no 
 fear to-daj^^Two hours later, Gen. Birney ordered the assault of 
 Fort Gilmore^feL miles off". It was a terrible work to do. It was a 
 heavy earth-work, protected by fallen trees with their tops towards 
 our men. The points of the projecting limbs were too high to step 
 over, and too low to pass under. As the troops entered these " Start- 
 ings," Knox in command of Co. E on that day a terrible fire poured 
 in upon them, shells, grape, canister, musketry, and when the troops 
 reached a corn-field, a cross enfilading fire. Men fell on every side; 
 some were wounded in two or more places. More than a hundred 
 went down in the 117th. Company E bore the colors on that day,
 
 A SKETCH. 103 
 
 which, of course, made its officer a conspicuous mark. Our brave boy 
 at the head of his men, cheered on the company uniil he was struck 
 by a bullet which passed through his body and lodged near his spine. 
 While walking off the field, supported by two soldiers, another bullet 
 struck his back, cutting his belt one-third off, passing out near where 
 the first one entered. As the men laid him down to rest, Babcock of 
 Sauquoit, the only one of the original squad who was outside Augusta, 
 and who was attending to the wounded, appeared with a stretcher, 
 Knox exclaiming, "Thank God, there is Perry Babcock. He'll get 
 me off the field." Lindsley and Beach had either fallen or had been 
 taken prisoners, Babcock saw Knox taken on the stretcher to the 
 field hospital, where he remained four or five hours. The surgeon 
 soon told him that his wound was fatal. He received the intelligence 
 calmly. Kendall had also been detailed to look after wounded 
 soldiers, and ascertaining that Knox had been brought in wounded, 
 went to him and remained (as Adjutant's assistant) with him till he 
 was removed from the field hospital at 9 o'clock in the evening. To 
 him Kuox said, (i Tell my friends I had hoped to meet them at home, 
 but I will meet them in heaven." A little while after, as Kend.ill was 
 thinking that he was the last man of the original Augusta squad in 
 active service, Knox pulled down the handkerchief which protected 
 his face from the sun, and said, "Oh, Ken., don't feel bad, this is all 
 right or it wouldn't have happened." At nine o'clock, the enemy 
 pressing, it was deemed prudent to send back the wounded. When 
 all was ready, he rose, and supported by Kendall and another, he 
 walked to the ambulance. In pain from the severity of hid wounds, 
 his groans fell upon the driver's ears, all the way to the river landing, 
 and before he could be moved from the ambulance, in order to take 
 the boat, he had expired. His Uncle William, who, two or three days 
 before, had arrived at City Point, though so close at hand, received 
 information of his fall only by telegram from Vermin and Wash- 
 ington ; and could only discharge his office of cornfor.Kto the parents 
 in conducting his body home, where the last sad services were 
 celebrated over the heroic dead, under the direction of the Rev. 
 Dr. Darling, of Albany. His commission as captain arrived at his 
 regiment a few days after his death. The result of the assault was 
 unsuccessful, but it was not the fault of the brave ranks. Fort Gilmore, 
 indeed, was not taken, but Knox's father was told in Richmond, 
 since the war closed, by a Southern soldier in Fort Gilmore at the 
 time, that had the early morning charge which took Fort Harrison, been
 
 104 A SKETCH. 
 
 followed up promptly in tbe forenoon, they would undoubtedly have 
 taken Fort Gilraore early and would have gone into Richmond. Gen. 
 Ord, however, had been wounded in the attack on Fort Harrison and 
 that occasioned the fatal delay. 
 
 The noble 117th, however, did valiant service at Fort Fisher, N. C., 
 four mouths later, planting first the Stars and Stripes on the heights 
 of that ''impregnable" strong bank, and six months later, at the 
 grand triumph, Knox's Uncle Charles, advancing from the battle- 
 field of Chapin's Farm, assisted to bear the first Christian Commission 
 banner into Richmond, and slept in peace and quietness under the 
 sweet music of the " Star Spangled Banner" in one of the mansions 
 of Capitol Square. 
 
 Thus fell our brave boy, who spent the first fifteen years of his life 
 in the gooi house in Vernon; whose sixteenth year was in company 
 with Charlie Warren, of Albany, at Broad Albin, under Rev. Mr. Mon- 
 teith; whose seventeenth year was at Mr. Bristol's school at Clinton ; and 
 who spent the year 1856 as his Uncle Charlie's room-mate at Hamil- 
 ton College. A more important time of his early life was the period 
 from 1857 to 1861, which he spent largely in Vernon, in which two 
 important things occurred: the first, his Christian conversion during 
 the great revival of 1857, and the second, a few months at Eastman's 
 Commercial College in Oswego. The one was the foundation of 
 that religious condition of mind which gradually revealed itself 
 during the war, as a quiet, undemonstrative, but decided and manly 
 Christian character, a character which endured temptation without 
 falling, and which stood up for his God in company meetings 
 and regimental church as modestly and bravely as he faced the 
 bullets of the enemy. The other helped to form the business ha' its of a 
 naturally orderly and persevering mind, until the clerkship of a 
 year in his uncle's store in 1861 to '62, more fully furnished him for 
 the large amount of clerical work which he did so well in the army. 
 He had been forming strong friendships, which would have lasted for 
 life. Those nearest him were most attached to him. His tent-mates 
 had a warm attachment to him. His bed-mate for many months,
 
 A SKETCH. 105 
 
 said that he loved him as a brother. Ilis company respected him. 
 His officers honored his fidelity and conscientiousness. 
 
 Col. Daggett praised the uniform and excellent condition in which 
 he kept his papers, and commended his fidelity to his company and to 
 his men, and said : " There was no better officer in the company than 
 he." And when the Colonel had become Gen. Daggett, he voluntarily 
 sa ; d afterwards " I can say of your son, Mr. Williams, what I can say of 
 few officers he was a gallant officer, beloved by his company, noted 
 for his reticence. Whenever detailed to special service, he always re- 
 ceived it by saving: 'Give me my orders, and I will do the best I 
 can.' And when he returned he made his report without boasting, 
 and went modestly to his regular duties." His lieutenant, when he 
 fell, said : u He was greatly beloved by all his company because he 
 had no favorites, but treated them fairly and impartially." 
 
 His chaplain declared him faithful to religious duties, and said of 
 his fall : " There fell a true man and a Christian." 
 
 Always neat in person, careful and exact in citizen and military 
 dress, reticent in speech, perhaps in his early years slightly suspicious 
 in manner ; he shook from him his boyish characteristics, and was 
 developing a strength of character which we little thought he pos- 
 sessed. Had he been spared to us, we should see him to-day, the 
 true man, and the firm Christian, whose real career began with his 
 patriotic committal to his brave comrades, as a volunteer. We love 
 him for his work's sake. We cherish his memory. We enshrine 
 him in our household. His name shall stand to us in golden letters, 
 associated with the Golden Wedding. His military career, lustrous 
 with a glowing patriotism, thrice beautiful now in his noble death, 
 shall shine forth from this time as with the light of diamonds. Com- 
 paratively humble though his service was, it was as faithful as that 
 of the commander-in-chief, and far more creditable to himself and to 
 us, than that of many who wore the stars of a general. 
 
 He laid down his all for the preservation of his country his occu- 
 pations, his prospects, his labors, his domestic attachments, bis life. 
 When he could have been mustered out some months after his return
 
 106 MEMBERS OF THE FAMIL Y 
 
 from the Golden Wedding, he resolutely re-enlisted for the war; and 
 as his Christian character grew month by month, and year by year 
 in him, life and all things dear were not surrendered simply for coun- 
 try's sake, but in defence of Christianity and of God. 
 
 MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY 
 
 PRESENT AT THE 
 
 DIAMOND WEDDING 
 
 JOHN J. KNOX, KNOXBOKO. 
 SARAH ANN KNOX. 
 EMMA LOUISA KNOX. 
 
 THOMAS WILLIAMS, VEKNON. 
 ELIZA ANN WILLIAMS. 
 
 CORDELIA L. ANDERSON, NEW YORK. 
 
 JOHN FABBE. 
 
 EDWARD C. ANDERSON, NEW YORK. 
 MRS. ELIZA M. ANDERSON. 
 SARAH KNOX ANDERSON. 
 GEORGE D. SMITH, TROT, N. Y. 
 ADELAIDE STRONG SMITH. 
 
 GEORGE LEONARD SMITH. 
 
 JAMES CTJRTISS KNOX, KNOXBORO, AT "THE OTHER HOUSE. 
 MARY ELIZABETH KNOX. 
 
 JAMES THEODORE KNOX. 
 MRS. LUCY ANNA KNOX. 
 WILLIAM STRONG KNOX. 
 MART LOUISA KNOX.
 
 PRESENT A T THE DIAMOND WEDDIXG. 107 
 
 WILLIAM EATON KNOX, ELMiRA.]o<^; e dL o-*- ftLt*-* / 
 
 r jS-fJ-J* i " ^^ - Pt> trt-* 
 
 ALICE WOODWARD KNOX. 
 
 I I* 2.0 
 MART ALICE KNOX. 
 
 GEORGE WILLIAM KNOX. 
 ROBERT JENKES KNOX. 
 JOHN HENRY KNOX, UTICA. 
 
 CHARLES RHODES, OSWEGO. 
 MART THOMAS RHODES. 
 
 BENJAMIN RHODES. 
 
 CATHERINE TAYLOR RHODES. 
 
 SARAH KNOX RHODES. 
 
 WILLIAM NEIL STRONG, ALBANY. 
 SARAH ADELAIDE STRONG. 
 
 FRANCES ADELAIDE STRONG. 
 
 JOHN KNOX RHODES. 
 
 JOHN JAY KNOX, WASHINGTON, D. C. 
 CAROLINE E. KNOX. 
 CAROLINE TODD KNOX. 
 
 HENRY MARTYN KNOX, ST. PAUL, MINN. 
 CHARLOTTE B. KNOX. 
 
 CARRIE KNOX. 
 
 HENRY COZZENS KNOX. 
 
 CHARLES E. KNOX, BLOOMFIELD, N. J. 
 SARAH FAKE KNOX. 
 
 CHARLES RHODES KNOX. 
 
 MARY FAKE KNOX. 
 
 FREDERICK JAY KNOX. 
 
 HERBERT EUGENE KNOX. 
 
 HELEN THEODOSIA KNOX. 
 
 GUESTS AT THE HOMESTEAD. 
 
 MRS. ELIZA (JOHN A.) WILLIAMS, Philadelphia, daughter of JAMES, 
 son of WILLIAM KNOX, of Hartford, Conn. 
 MRS. FRANCES CURTISS KNAPP, Utica, N. Y.
 
 The memorial service for Rev. Dr/Knox was 
 held in the First Church in Elmira last Sun- 
 day afternQ&n^-The church was appropriately 
 draped, and the floral decorations were very 
 beautiful. President Cowles of Elmira College 
 presided. Touching and excellent addresses 
 were made by Rev. Dr. Thomas K. Beecher, 
 the senior pastor in the city, Rev. Dr. Mc- 
 Knight, senior Episcopal rector, and Rev. M. 
 S. Hard, senior Methodist minister. The sing- 
 ing was exceptionally tine, the choir rendering 
 some of the pieces that were known to be spe- 
 cial favorites of Dr. Knox. Other clergymen 
 took other parts in the service. The closing 
 address was by Dr. Cowles. The occasion was 
 altogether a most happy tribute of affection 
 and esteem for the lamented
 
 IEV. DR. WILLIAM EATON KNOX. 
 ie Intelligence can hardlj to be un 
 
 xpected, the announcement of the death of 
 tev. WILLIAM E. KNOX, D. I)., will be re. 
 eived \vitli sincere regret in all of central 
 few York. Dr. KNOX had for years suffered 
 rorn pulmonary troubles, and seemed to sus- 
 -iiiu himself by his strong will and intense 
 nervous force. During the summer he has 
 \ingreliefat various points, and he 
 died on Monday afternoon at Blue Mountain 
 lake in the Adiroudacks. He had been there 
 early in July, and appeared to be grow- 
 ing better and stronger. He was preparing 
 to come down to lower altitude. A series of 
 severe storms during the ^nrst two weeks of 
 inber seemed to prostrate him rapidly, 
 rode a mile and a half to attend ser- 
 vice last Sunday morning, and on Monday 
 while appearing very feeble, he said, with his 
 usual hopefulness, "I shall be better to-mor- 
 row." At 4 p. M. Monday he lay down, ac- 
 cording to his custom, to rest, and in half an 
 hour he quietly entered upon his eternal rest. 
 He was a native of Knoxboro, in this coun- 
 , born Oct. 16, 1820, a son of JOHN J. KNOX, 
 uul was loyal to his home, and to all of the 
 interests of central New York. He was 
 graduated at Hamilton college in 1840, in the 
 with Professor T. W. DWIGHT, Rev. 
 Dis. HE:TRY KENDALL, L. M. MILLER and 
 HENHY A. NELSON, and Hon. G. W. SCO- 
 FFED, register of the treasury. His theolog- 
 ical studies were pursued at Auburn. His 
 first pastorate was at Watertown. For twenty- 
 three years he was pastor of the First Pres- 
 byterian church in Rome, and for tour 
 teen years has tilled the pulpit of the 
 First Presbyterian church in Elmira, where 
 his loss will now be especially fel:. The 
 degree of D. D. was conferred upon him by 
 Hamilton college in 1865, and he was unani- 
 iy chosen a trustee of that institution in 
 1876, to succeed his venerable father, then 
 lately deceased. He was enthusiastic in his 
 devotion to the college, was constant in his 
 attendance at commencement, often the 
 syraposiarch at the commencement dinners, 
 and diligent at trustee meetings and in every 
 ont for higher education in his native 
 county. He was one of the foremost pro- 
 moters of the plan for raising a presbyteriau 
 endowment tor Hamilton college. His absence 
 from the commencement last June v.
 
 THE DEPARTED BROTHERS HATFIELD AND KNOX. 
 
 By Anson Smyth, D.D. 
 ^rlffl^.4. ft v v? v C-v^rto ij[^ j( Cleveland, Sept. 28, 1883. 
 
 Dear Dr. Field: There wfll ^b'e' no want of 
 eulogies of these noble and blessed men, and 
 my right to speak of them I acknowledge is 
 not greater than that of many others. I will, 
 therefore, confine myself to a brief notice. 
 
 Of Dr. Hatfield. Within the lines in which 
 his life-work lay he was preeminent, and no 
 man of our Church could die and leave behind 
 him more hearts to mourn his death. 
 
 Though I had known this dear brother by 
 reputation as a pastor of almost marvellous 
 success, my personal acquaintance with him 
 began at the meeting of the General Assembly 
 at Detroit in 1850, thirty-three years ago. He 
 was then Stated Clerk of the Assembly, having 
 been elected in 1846. How well do I remember 
 his attractive features, being then but forty- 
 four years of age. And how well do I remem- 
 ber the cloud that passed over his countenance 
 when a telegram informed him of the sudden 
 death of a daughter. Calling Dr. Erskine Ma- 
 son to the platform, he turned over to him his 
 clerical duties, and hurried away to his dark- 
 ened home in New York. During the session 
 of the Assembly in 1863 in Philadelphia, it was 
 my good fortune to be assigned to the same ex- 
 cellent lodgings with Dr. Hatfield, Dr. McLain 
 of Williamsburgh, and elder William S. Grif- 
 fith of Brooklyn. They were all by a good 
 many years my seniors in age, as also in wis- 
 dom and goodness, and how greatly did I en- 
 joy the two weeks that I was with them. I 
 had frequent conversations with Dr. Hatfield, 
 and found him to be a brother whom it was 
 very easy to love. Subsequently I met him in 
 several Assemblies, but of my further acquaint- 
 ance with him until last Spring, I will not 
 speak. 
 
 About the first of last May I wrote him, say- 
 ing that on account of his eminent services in 
 the Church, and his preeminent qualifications 
 for the position, he ought to be elected Mod- 
 erator of the forthcoming Assembly, and with 
 his permission I would be happy to exert any 
 influence that I might possess to secure his 
 election. He replied, thanking me for my let- 
 ter, but saying that if the office should come to 
 him he would endeavor to perform faithfully 
 its duties, but that he could not in any way 
 seek the position, as he had never asked for 
 any office, in the Church or out of it. When 
 we met at Saratoga. kno\\insr tha.t spvpm.i pmi.
 
 work we spent more tliuii half the ni-iit 
 From tluit hour (in the Assembly closed; he 
 must have found his office excec.lin-ly trying 
 to the strength of a man in his seventy-seventh 
 year. To preside over six hundred commis- 
 sioners, to direct their work and decide the 
 many appeals that were made to him, to reply 
 t<> deletes from corresponding bodies, and to 
 preach both Lord's days, would test the endur- 
 ance of the most stalwart man in the Assem- 
 bly. All these duties he performed to the ad- 
 miration of all. 
 
 From the Assembly he went to the great 
 work of preparing the Minutes, a volume of 
 almost six hundred pages, much of the work 
 consisting of the tabulation of three hundred 
 pages of statistics. His life was spared till 
 this great work was completed, and then he 
 was not, for God took him. 
 
 During the Summer I had several letters 
 from him, in one of which he stated that in 
 consequence of his bad health, the publication 
 the Minutes would be delayed, expressing 
 his indebtedness to Dr. Eoberts, the Perma- 
 nent Clerk, for valuable assistanc -. 
 
 In his farewell address to the Assembly, Dr. 
 Brown of Virginia said that he would like to 
 take Dr. Hatfleld home with him, that he 
 might preside over the Southern Assembly 
 next Spring at Vicksburg. But the dear man 
 has gone to "the General Assembly and 
 Church of the first-born which are written in 
 heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to 
 the spirits of just men made perfect, and to 
 Jesus, the Mediator of the new covenant." 
 
 Of Dr. William E. Knox I might say much, 
 but must say little, for many others may claim' 
 the right to be heard in his praise. In some 
 respects his life touched mine more closely 
 than did that of Dr. Hatfield. It is true that 
 pur residences were far apart, and our meet- 
 ings not frequent. More than thirty years ago 
 in Toledo, he married Miss Alice Jenks, a mem- 
 ber of the church of which I was pastor, and 
 during my residence there of nine years, he 
 several times visited the city and preached in 
 y pulpit. It did not require great length of 
 time to make thorough acquaintance with him 
 for lie was genial, fraternally social, open-heart- 
 1. and outspoken beyond most of the minis- 
 ters that I have ever known. He came to my 
 home, where we had lively times, which to me 
 ere most grateful. "The Fox girls" with 
 their raps, table'-tippings, and spiritualistic 
 'Oleries, were then beginning to make a noise 
 
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