Civil War Memoir: Peter J. Rabb 23rd Battery Light Artillery, New York State Volunteers

The following is from Grand Army of the Republic ~ Department of New York ~ Personal War Sketches of the Members of Charles P. Sprout Post No. 76, of Lockport

Sprout who was with the New York 28th Infantry was killed in Action at Cedar Mountain, Virginia on August 9, 1862

Peter J. Rabb
Born Erie, New York
23rd Battery Light Artillery, New York State Volunteers

…I served as Blacksmith for two years, and was discharged as Private at Washington, N.C…. I was in the battle of Beaver Creek, and afterward in the engagements at Kingston, Whitehall, Mount Olive, Goldsboro, Bachelor’s Creek, Washington, Raleigh, Greensboro, New Bern.

I was wounded November 24th 1863, in the capturing of White’s Camp of Guerrillas, receiving a bayonet thrust through the hand and was confined in Hospital at New Berne….

An important event in my military life was at the capturing of White’s Camp, Nov. 24th 1863. I went around behind a Rebel Picket and caught him by the back of the neck, before he knew it, and with the point of a pistol held to his head and demanded his surrender. He laid down his gun and became my prisoner.

In March 1864 in riding a balky horse that we got from the 3rd N.Y. Cavalry, I was bucked off into a cellar way, and across the street and over a picket fence, sustaining a breach which has troubled, more or less, ever since.

Civil War Memoir, William Henry Empson 124th Ohio Volunteers.

The following is from Grand Army of the Republic~Department of New York~Personal War Sketches of the Members of Charles P. Sprout Post No. 76, of Lockport

Sprout who was with the New York 28th Infantry was killed in Action at Cedar Mountain, Virginia on August 9, 1862

William Henry Empson
Born Norfolk, England
Company “A”, 124th Ohio Volunteers

My first experience in battle was at Spring Hill Tennessee and afterward at Triune and Chickamauga (which in Indian language signifies ‘River of Blood’). I was taken prisoner September 20, 1863 at Chickamauga by the Rebel General Longstreet’s men and confined in Scott and Pemberton Prisons. Richmond Va…. Danville Va., and Andersonville, Ga. from September 29, 1863 to April 29, 1865….

My most intimate comrades were John W. Gould, Seymour E. Hill, William D. Stover, and Barnea Collegan, fellow Prisoners.

The most important event in my military life was my release from prison, where I experienced such terrible suffering while a prisoner, from scurvy, feet and legs badly swollen, and cords on left leg contracting, drawing the leg into a kneeling position, and turning [the flesh] black. Hair came out, mouth swelled and teeth very loose. The affection extending over my whole body until I became helpless. Weight when captured — 145 pounds — when released 65 pounds.

Civil War Memoir: J. Byron Lovell 28th New York Volunteer Infantry

The following is from Grand Army of the Republic ~ Department of New York ~ Personal War Sketches of the Members of Charles P. Sprout Post No. 76, of Lockport

Sprout who was with the New York 28th Infantry was killed in Action at Cedar Mountain, Virginia on August 9, 1862

J. Byron Lovell
Born Tompkins, New York
Company “C”, 28th New York Volunteer Infantry

…My first experience in battle was the 1st Winchester engagement, then followed 2nd Winchester, Point of Rocks, Ball’s Bluff, Chantilly, Rappahannock, Cedar Mountain, Antietam, Chancellorsville, Brandy Station, and 2nd Bull Run….

The most important event in my military experience was the battle of Cedar Mountain, Va., where the Regiment was almost annihilated. Colonel Dudley Donnelly and Adjutant Charles P. Sprout were killed, and Lieut. Colonel Brown lost an arm, and Major Warren rec’d 5 wounds and was left upon the field 36 hours, and was finally brought off and eventually recovered.

Civil War Memoir Seth Lovell Company A, 140th New York Infantry

The following is from Grand Army of the Republic~Department of New York~Personal War Sketches of the Members of Charles P. Sprout Post No. 76, of Lockport

Sprout who was with the New York 28th Infantry was killed in Action at Cedar Mountain, Virginia on August 9, 1862

Seth M. Lovell
Born Tompkins, New York
Company “A”, 140th New York Infantry

…Rappahannock Station was the first battle in which I was engaged. I was afterward at Mine Run, Centerville and the Wilderness. I was wounded at the Battle of the Wilderness…. Was never in hospital, except as a prisoner at Lynchburg…having been captured by the Rebel Army, May 5, 1864.

The day after I was wounded and left on the field in hands of the enemy. Was taken about three miles from battlefield to a place in [the] Woods near Robinson’s Tavern on the Pike, where we lay for one month, thence taken to Orange Court House—Gordonsville, Danville, thence to Macon, August, and Andersonville, Ga., where I remained until November 1864, then taken to Florence S.C. Left Andersonville on account of Sherman’s Army coming near. Was paroled from Florence S.C. with 12,000 sick and convalescents in December 1864, too sick to know date….

Most important events in my experience—Battle of Wilderness and incarceration as a Prisoner of War in the different Earthly hells where we were left to die like sheep with the rot. The most fearful record was that of my prison life in Andersonville, where the average death rate reached 125 per day, through the hot season. The life here of a wounded prisoner begs a description, and no person who participated in the horrors of Andersonville can ever forget, neither can he describe adequately to those not having shared the same fate.

Civil War Memoir: Charles S. Schad 1st New York Light Artillery

The following is from Grand Army of the Republic ~ Department of New York ~ Personal War Sketches of the Members of Charles P. Sprout Post No. 76, of Lockport

Sprout who was with the New York 28th Infantry was killed in Action at Cedar Mountain, Virginia on August 9, 1862

Charles S. Schad
Born Niagara, New York
1st New York Light Artillery

The first battle I took part in was at Winchester. Va., on May 25, 1862. Was engaged at the battle of Chancellorsville…and the following skirmishes, Cedar Creed Va…Edenburg…New Jackson…Strasburg to Winchester…Dumphries, Va…and Ely’s Ford….

I was wounded at Chancellorsville May 1st, 1863. Struck by butt end of 12 lb. Shell just above right knee, and was in hospital at Winchester Va from May 28, 1862 to June 23, 1862….

I was captured at Winchester Va, May 25, 1862 by the Confederate troops under Stonewall Jackson, just after the battle, and was confined at Court House Square and Jail at Winchester, Va from May 26, 1862 to May 28, 1862 and at Union Hotel Hospital until June 4, 1862 when the town was occupied by our troops. Was taken from prison on a stretcher to the Union Hotel Hospital Winchester Va.

It is a matter of pride that I was permitted to contribute my services to preserve our common country in her time of need.