George M. Martin, Great Grandfather of
Laurance H. Martin
1843 (Birth) To 1866 (Civil War)
George M.
Martin was born in May of 1843 in the town of Ausable in Clinton County NY. He was the seventh child and second son of Hugh Jr and Sally (Goodell) Martin. Most
of his childhood was spent in Ausable in the middle of some of the most
picturesque mountains and waterways that can be found. His brothers and sisters
ranged from 11 years old (Lucy) to a year and a half (Mary). His older brother
Henry was only 3 years older than he. They lived in what must have been a
childhood paradise full of mountains, trails, forests, streams, water falls,
and deep snow. As children the boys would learn to hunt, fish, and survive in
the mountains surrounding Ausable and Franklin, all skills they would need in
their future roles as mountain guides.
The Area around Ausable Forks is some of the most rugged in NY State.
The area around Franklin Falls is equally as rugged as Ausable Falls.
By the census of 1850 the family had moved 20 miles west to Franklin. George was seven years old and it is recorded that he had attended school that year. His father Hugh (2) Martin was 41 years old and the census states that he was a “Merchant.” His mother Sally was 39 and the document listed her as “Sarah.” His older sister Lydia was 15 years old and home from The Willard Seminary finishing school for girls is Troy NY, either permanently or for the summer.
George M. Martin in the 1850 Federal Census of Franklin NY
Also present in the home was a “laborer” (Henry W. Thorton, 22) and a “clerk” (Charles W. Smith, 24). It is unknown exactly what manner of merchant Hugh (2) was at this time. The presence of a clerk and a laborer would seem to imply some sort of store or supplier. Several sources would imply this was either lumber or iron goods, perhaps both. Also listed is one Bridget McCormick who was 18 years old and whose role we can only speculate. She could have been a family servant, a boarder, or someone related to Henry Thorton or Charles Smith.
Existing on the same street as Hugh and family were a lumber merchant, a carpenter, and two blacksmiths. It is apparent that Hugh and family lived in the business section of the community. The entire community would face calamity two short years later when a wild fire will sweep through the town and completely raze it to the ground. Immediately after the destruction of the town and their business, Hugh became the proprietor of the rebuilt Franklin Falls Hotel where the family lived for at least 7 years. The Hotel was on the main road between “civilization” to the east in Plattsburg and numerous thriving sport and health resorts deeper in the mountains around the Tupper and Saranac lakes. The Hotel became renowned as a stopping off place when travelers debark for meals and rest.
An unknown Family posing in front of he Franklin falls Hotel in the early 1900s.
By the 1860 census George was 17 and still with the family in the Franklin Falls House. His occupation is listed as “farmer.” George’s older sister Lydia was married there a year earlier and she and her husband were in Brighton laying the foundations for Paul Smiths Hotel Complex.
George M. Martin in the 1860 Federal Census of Franklin NY
The Times
At this point in
American History tension was exploding on the issues of slavery, the fugitive
slave law, and states rights. One year prior, in 1859, John Brown, a radical
anti-slavery abolitionist and resident of North Elba, had staged a raid on Harper’s
Ferry arsenal in Virginia. Historians agree that this event was partial
responsible for the outbreak of the civil war.
Photo from The Adirondack Museum, Blue Mountain Lake, NY
Early Black Residents of North Elba in the mid 1800s.
Slavery had long been abolished in New York State (1827), and even though there were federal laws against aiding slaves right up to the year 1865 (4 years into the war) the residents of the Adirondack Mountain area had become very active in the Underground Railroad assisting escaped slaves into the northern US and Canada. “Brown’s Tract” near North Elba, produced a small community known as a “negro colony”, about 30 miles from St. Armand. The small town just south of Tupper Lake also used the unusual name of “Tinbuctoo.”
There are many stories about the efforts of the residents of Franklin and Essex counties relating to the assistance of black slaves escaping from the southern slave states. One such story is found in “HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF FRANKLIN COUNTY AND ITS SEVERAL TOWNS”
“…But Mr. and Mrs. Jones were not the only fugitive slaves preferring to continue into Canada or to lose themselves in the Adirondack forests. Alexander Hazard was one of the latter, and lived undisturbed for many years in the vicinity of Bloomingdale. John Thomas and Jesse Runyon were two others. Thomas was the grandfather of the second Mrs. Jones. The story used to be current in Franklin Falls, Vermontville and Bloomingdale that his former master located him, and sent agents to apprehend him and return him to slavery; that these actually proceeded as far as Franklin Falls on their mission, but that upon being warned there that Thomas was armed and would never be taken alive, and that the local whites would stand by him, with certainty that some one would be killed, they abandoned their purpose, and turned back. Runyon returned, to the South voluntarily during the civil war.”
History of The Underground Railroad
in Franklin County, New York
John Thomas and Mary Jones, referred to in the above reference are found living a short distance from the Martins near St. Armand.
The 1868 post war map shows the J. Thomas house (upper left) about ½ mile from the Martin homes. The two Murray families living next to the Thomas family are also escaped slaves.
Hotels were a crucial part of the Underground Railroad across the northern states. The Martins managed the Franklin Hotel the decade prior to the start of the civil war. While there is no proof that the Franklin Hotel was a part of this network, the possibility is intriguing.
This modern road map of the area
just north of Bloomingdale shows the relative positions of the Martin homes to
the Thomas home. It cannot be determined if the Martins participated in the
afore mentioned defense of John Thomas against his former slave “masters.”
George M. Martin grew up in an area where many residents were highly sympathetic toward the abolitionist cause during the 1840s and 1850s. Yet family had strong ties to the Democratic Party. Hugh Jr and later the sons would all hold party and elected office as Democrats. Nationally the Democratic Party was pro-slavery, pro-states rights, and pro- fugitive slave laws. But there were well know divisions in the party in upstate New York between local Democrats, who were abolitionist, and those who supported the nation party position.
“The split of the Democrats over the slavery issue into antislavery Barnburners and the Hunkers, who were not opposed to the extension of slavery, helped pave the way for New York's swing to the Republicans and Abraham Lincoln in the fateful election of 1860.”
“The Antislavery Rank and File: A Social Profile of the Abolitionists' Constituency”
We cannot say conclusively whether the Martins split from the national pro-slavery Democrats on this issue. But on December 28th 1863 George M Martin, at the age of 20, enlisted in the Union army. The 118th New York Infantry Regiment, also known as the “Adirondack Regiment,” was formed in late 1863 in Plattsburg. Men from St. Armand would belong to “C” company under Colonel Oliver Keene Jr. The draft law had been enacted earlier in the year (1863), and the conscription process was carried out by a lottery similar to the more recent draft lottery system. The infamous “draft riots” of 1863 in New York city were indicative of the attitude of many downstate, while in the upstate thousands volunteered without being drafted. Additionally, those threatened with being drafted could, for the price of three hundred dollars, hire someone to take there place in the ranks. The Martin family was certainly prosperous enough to elect this option if they had agreed with the nation Democratic pro-slavery positions. Yet on December 28, 1863 George enlisted by choice into the union army. And while the average length of service for Union soldiers was 60 to 90 days (toward the end of the war, this average increased to about 9 months), George remained in the service for 26 months (Dec 1863 – Feb 1866), continuing 10 months after the end of the war (April 1865). These facts would seem to indicate the Martin family broke from the policy of the national Democratic Party regarding these issues. George was only 20 years old when he volunteered. The legal age to join the army was 21. The army was not particular, over 100,000 soldiers in the Union army were under 15 years of age.
George M. Martin in the Civil War.
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Historical Data Systems, comp.. American Civil War Soldiers [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 1999. Original data: Data compiled by Historical Data Systems of Kingston, MA from Historical Data Systems, Inc. PO Box 35 Duxbury.
Due to their experience with rifles and hunting, the 118th, “The Adirondack Regiment,” was armed with Spencer Repeating rifles instead of the more commonly issued muzzle loaders. This resulted in the 118th being used for specific purposes where their weapons gave them advantage.
Most of the following is taken from the work of Civil War Historian Fredrick Phisterer and his book “Statistical Record of the Armies of the United States”.
NEW YORK ONE HUNDRED AND 18th REGIMENT OF INFANTRY. The “Adirondack Regiment“
Colonel Samuel T. Richards received, July 7, 1862, authority to recruit this regiment in the counties of Clinton, Essex and Warren; it was organized at Plattsburg and there mustered in the service of the United States for three years August 18 to 20, 1862. The members of the regiment not to be discharged with it were transferred to the 96th Infantry June 13, 1865.
The companies were recruited principally:
A at Queensbury and Plattsburg;
B at Chazy, Ellenburg and Saranac;
C at St. Armand, Jay, Keene, North Elba and Wilmington;
D at Horicon, Chester, Johnsburg and Luzerne;
E at Crown Point, Moriah, Newcomb, Schroon and Ticonderoga;
F at Essex, Elizabethtown, Moriah and Westport;
G at Luzerne, Bolton, Stony Creek and Warrensburg;
H at Plattsburg;
I at Champlain, Chazy, Dannemora and Mooers, and
K at Au Sable, Black Brook and Peru.
The regiment left the State September 3, 1862; served in the Middle Department, 8th Corps, from September 4, 1862; in the defenses and Department of Washington, later in Provisional Brigade, Abercrombie's Division, 22d Corps, from October 24, 1862; in the District of Washington, from February, 1863; at Suffolk, Va., in Reserve Brigade, 7th Corps, Department of Virginia, from April 22, 1863; in 1st Brigade, Getty's Division, 7th Corps, from May, 1863; in Wistar's Brigade, 4 Corps, from June, 1863; in Provisional Brigade, 7th Corps, from July, 1863; at Yorktown, Va., from August, 1863; at Norfolk and Portsmouth, Department of Virginia, from October, 1863; at Norfolk, Va., from November, 1863; at Newport News, Va., from December, 1863; in Wistar's Division, 18th Corps, from January, 1864; in Heckman's Division, 18th Corps, from February, 1864; in the 2d Brigade, 1st Division, 18th Corps, Army of the James, from April, 1864; in the 2d Brigade, 3d Division, 24th Corps, from December, 1864, and it was honorably discharged and mustered out, under Col. George F. Nichols, June 13, 1865, at Richmond.
Source: Phisterer, p. 3,384
George joined the 118th in December 1863, and so served under these commands during his enlistment with the 118th:
· Wistar's Division, 18th Corps, from January, 1864;
· Heckman's Division, 18th Corps, from February, 1864;
· 2d Brigade, 1st Division, 18th Corps, Army of the James, from Apr, 1864;
· in the 2d Brigade, 3d Division, 24th Corps, from Dec, 1864
· 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 24th Army Corps, to June, 1865.
Regiment Flag Used by Civil War Re-enactors
Service locations and engagements:
George was not present at these early, 1863 engagements:
· Guard and provost duty at Washington, D.C., until April, 1863.
· Ordered to Suffolk, Va., April 16.
· Siege of Suffolk April 20-May 4.
· Moved to Portsmouth, Va., May 13.
· Operations on Norfolk & Petersburg Railroad May 15-28.
· Antioch Church and Barber's Cross Roads May 23.
· Reconnaissance to the Chickahominy June 9-16.
· Dix's Peninsula Campaign June 24-July 7.
· Expedition from White House to South Anna Bridge July 1-7.
· Action at South Anna Bridge July 4.
· Expedition to Gloucester Court House July 25.
· Duty at Yorktown and vicinity until October.
George joined the 118th Infantry Regiment NY Dec 28, 1863:
· Portsmouth and vicinity until March, 1864.
· Wistar's Expedition against Richmond February 6-8, 1864.
· Ballahoe or Bear Quarter Road and Deep Creek Feb 29-Mar 1.
· Demonstration against Portsmouth March 4-5.
· Moved to Yorktown March 17.
· Expedition to Isle of Wight County April 13-15.
· Smithfield, Cherry Grove, April 14.
· Butler's operations on south side of the James River and Petersburg and Richmond May 4-28.
· Occupation of Bermuda Hundred and City Point May 5.
· Port Walthall Junction, Chester Station, May 7.
· Swift Creek or Arrow field Church May 9-10.
· Operations against Fort Darling May 12-16.
· Fought on 14 May 1864 at Proctor's Creek, VA.
· Battle of Drury's Bluff May 14-16, 199 killed, wounded or missing.
"Of the men of the 118th at Drury's Bluff, there were wounded Lieut. Col. Geo. F. Nichols, Adj. John M. Carter, Capts. Livingston and Ransom, Lieuts. Treadway and Sherman, while Capt. Dennis Stone, who before entering the army had been pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Au Sable Forks, and James H. Pierce were taken prisoners. Lieut. W.H. Stevenson was killed while carrying his wounded captain, Robert W. Livingston, to a place of safety. Of him his captain said: "No more gallant and generous spirit was offered among the victims of the war. No praise of Lieutenant Stevenson—his gallant ardor—his dash—his generous friendship, can be misplaced." Stevenson's assistants, George Miller and William Huff were wounded, captured, and died in Southern prisons. It was here that Lieut. Henry J. Adams of Elizabethtown seized a standard and shouted "Rally round the flag boys!" In the morning of this disastrous day, Capt. Benedict, a young and gallant officer of the 96th, was killed with two of his men by a shell..."
· Bermuda Hundred May 16-28.
·
Moved to White House and thence to Cold Harbor May 27-31.
· Battles about Cold Harbor June 1-12.
Chain of Command over Private George M. Martin:
Army of the Potomac Maj. Gen. George G. Meade
--18th Army Corps Maj. Gen. William F. Smith
----Second Brigade Brig. Gen. Hiram Burnham
------118th New York Col. Oliver Keese Jr.
Major Gen George Meade Major Gen William Smith Gen Hiram Burnham
Killed at Cold Harbor
Battle Alignment at Cold Harbor on June 1ST
On June 1st 1864 the 118th began the battle of Cold Harbor as part of the first assault and continued with the second assault on the 3rd.
In the second assault against the confederate line on June 3rd, it is estimated that 7,000 Union soldiers were killed in 22 minutes. The 118th was with Brooks in the center during this second assault. This regiment alone lost 32 men in this battle. Overall, the Union side lost 11,000 men in 43 minutes
Battle of Cold Harbor
Union Soldiers in trenches before Petersburg
· Before Petersburg June 15-18.
21 were killed or wounded in siege operations against Petersburg and Richmond from June 16, 1864 to April 2, 1865.
The 118th
Saw Action on:
15 Jun 1864
20 Jun 1864
30 Jun 1864
8 Jul 1864
9 Jul 1864
30 Jul 1864
“Mine Explosion”
(The crater)
Aftermath of the battle of the crater.
· Fought on 9 Aug 1864 at Petersburg, VA.
· In trenches before Petersburg and the Bermuda Hundred front until September 27.
· Battle of Chaffin's Farm, New Market Heights, September 28-30.
Fort Harrison Virginia, 20th & 28th Sept 1864. 67 killed and wounded.
Chaffin's Farm, Virginia Oct 1, 1864. 111 being killed, and wounded.
“The taking of New Market Heights was won more by the Confederates falling back and giving the ground up.
Brigadier General John Gregg now in command of the Texas Brigade had ordered
them to fall back on Chaffin's Farm and give up the heights. The first success
of the day was won.
The hour was now 6:00 AM and Major General Edward O. C. Ord's columns were
striking up the Varina Road towards Battery No. 9, or Fort Harrison. In the lead, where the 118th New York Infantry, and 10th New Hampshire
Infantry, along with the First Division's Sharpshooter Battalion.
The 10th New Hampshire and 118th New York had been carried with them a weapon
that was no match for the Confederate muzzle loaders, Spencer Repeating Rifles.
They had first been challenged the 17th by and 23rd Tennessee Infantry, but
they were forced to withdraw due to the heavy return fire of these two
regiments. Brigadier General Hiram Burnham, a Mainer, and in command of the 2nd
Brigade ordered them to pursue at the double quick.”
· Battle of Fair Oaks October 27-28.
Fought on 27 Oct 1864 at Fair Oaks, VA.
Fought on 28 Oct 1864 at Fair Oaks, VA.
· The trenches at Richmond until March, 1865. 43 killed and wounded.
· Fall of Petersburg and Richmond April 2-3.
· Pursuit of Lee April 3-9.
· Appomattox Court House April 9.
· Surrender of Lee and his army.
· Provost duty at Richmond and Manchester until June.
· Mustered out June 13, 1865.
Veterans and Recruits of the 118th transferred to 96th New York Infantry*
118th Regiment lost during service:
6 Officers killed
93 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded
188 Enlisted died men by disease.
Total 287.
George M. Martin Was Transferred to the 96th Infantry Regiment
* It should be noted that the transfer of the 118th veterans (including George) to the 96th NY Infantry took place 2 months after Lee surrendered to Grant at Appomattox. For the 10 months George remained with the 96th NY Infantry most of the efforts were toward occupation and suppression in and around Richmond Virginia. For this reason there is not a lot to be said about this period of his duty.
Only this information is relative to the 10 months George spent in the 96th New York Infantry:
Commands:
· 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 24th Army Corps, to June, 1865.
· 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 24th Army Corps, to July, 1865.
· 1st Independent Brigade, 24th Army Corps, to August, 1865.
· Dept. of Virginia to February, 1866 (mustered out Feb 6th)
Engagements:
· Occupation of Richmond from April 3rd 1865.
· Duty in the Dept. of Virginia until February, 1866.
· Mustered out at City Point, Va., February 6, 1866
A Short Synopsis of the 118th Adirondack Regiment:
The 118th, the "Adirondack Regiment," was recruited in the counties of Clinton, Essex and Warren, organized at Plattsburg, and there mustered into the U. S. service Aug. 18-20, 1862, for three years. It was composed of excellent material and left the state 1,040 strong on Sept. 3.
(Note – George would not join until 3 months later Dec 28 1863)
It served in the defenses of Washington until April, 1863, when it was ordered to Suffolk, Va., in the reserve brigade, 7th corps. In the 1st brigade, Getty's division, same corps, it was present at Antioch Church and Baker's cross-roads; in Wistar's brigade, 4th corps, at Franklin; and in the provisional brigade, 7th corps, it was engaged at South Anna bridge, losing 11 killed, wounded and missing.
It then performed garrison and guard duty for several months at Yorktown, Norfolk, Portsmouth and Newport News, Va. As part of the 2nd brigade, 1st division, 18th corps, it took part in the campaign against Richmond with Gen. Butler's Army of the James, being engaged at Port Walthall Junction, Chester Station, Swift creek, Proctor's creek, and Drewry's bluff.
In the Drewry's bluff battle, it lost 199 killed, wounded and missing. It fought gallantly at Cold Harbor in June, when it lost 32 in killed and wounded. In the first assaults on Petersburg it lost 21 killed and wounded. It was next severely engaged at Fort Harrison, where it lost 67 killed and wounded, and during the advance on Richmond by the Darbytown road in October its ranks were once more fearfully depleted, 111 being killed, wounded and missing.
Then attached to the 2nd brigade, 3d division, 24th corps, it was engaged without loss at the fall of Petersburg, April 2, 1865. During the long period it was in the trenches before Petersburg it met with losses amounting to 43 in killed and wounded. It was on the skirmish line of the 3d division when Richmond was finally occupied, and claims to have been the first organized Federal infantry in that city.
It was mustered out at Richmond, under Col. Nichols, June 13, 1865 (veterans went to the 96th NY Infantry), having lost by death during service, 6 officers and 98 enlisted men, killed and mortally wounded; 188 enlisted men by disease and other causes, a total of 292; of whom 45 died in Confederate prisons.
Source: The Union Army, Vol. 2, p. 135
Report of Col. Oliver Keese, jr., One hundred and Eighteenth New York Infantry.
HDQRS. 118TH REGT. NEW YORK STATE VOLS.,
Bowers' Hill, Va., April 16, 1864.
LIEUT,
In obedience to your instructions, I left my camp at Bowers' Hill, Va., on the 13th instant, at 3 p. m., and marched to Sleepy Hole Landing, on the Nansemond River, arriving there between 6 and 7 p. m., and then waited for the launches until 2 a. m. the 14th instant.
I got my command across the river by 4 a. m., landing at Holloway's Wharf. I immediately sent 100 men, under command of Lieut.-Col. Nichols, down the river to Barrel Point, and started with the remainder of my command, 300 men, for Cherry Grove, arriving there at 7 a. m.
At the village of Chuckatuck I found and destroyed three boats. I found no other boats on the march. I captured at Chuckatuck and on the march to Cherry Grove 10 horses and 4 mules. After halting at Cherry Grove an hour, in obedience to your orders, I followed the line of march of the Ninth New Jersey to Benn's Church, arriving there at 11. 20 a. m. I remained there until 2.30 p. m., when hearing artillery firing I moved on toward Smithfield, Va., arriving there at 5 p. m. I captured at Mrs. Norfleet's house, about 2 miles from Cherry Grove, a private in the signal corps. The scouts of the enemy showed themselves at different points along our line of march.
On the morning of the 15th, at daylight, 70 men, under command of Capt. Parmenter, marched up the Smithfield Creek 2 miles; they found and destroyed 2 eight-oared launches, 4 skiffs, and 2 dug-outs. The horses and mules that I captured on the route were turned loose for want of transportation at Smithfield.
Lieut.-Col. Nichols, commanding the detachment that marched to Barrel Point, on the Nansemond, reports that he found no boats on the line of his march, but saw 4 of the enemy's scouts about 5 miles down the river.
I have the honor to be, lieutenant, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
O. KEESE, JR., Col., Cmdg. 118th Regt. New York Volunteers.
Lieut. R. D. BENSON, Acting Assistant Adjutant-Gen.
Source: Official Records PAGE 275-60
OPERATIONS IN N. C., VA., W. VA., MD., AND PA.
[CHAP. XLV. [Series I. Vol. 33. Serial No. 60.]
