Camp of 35th New York Volunteers - Circa 1862

3D red/cyan anaglyph created from glass plate stereograph at Library of Congress - Prints & Photographs Online Catalog: www.loc.gov/pictures/

Title: Camp of 35th New York Volunteers. (Jefferson County Regiment)

Date: Circa 1862

Photographer: Not Identified

Link to glass plates: www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2018670728/

Notes: For some context and background information on what the men of the 35th N.Y. experienced during the Civil War, I downloaded a copy of the “Third Annual Report of the Bureau of Military Statistics State of New York” [pub 1866] which is available for free, in multiple formats, at the Internet Archive: archive.org/index.php

The 35th New York Regiment was composed of 10 companies, A-K (no Co. I), with a regimental strength of 688 at formation on July 24, 1861, a peak strength of 971 in March 1862, and 593 men when mustered out of service on June 5, 1863. There are only 55 men pictured here in the foreground, so this is just one of those 10 companies - not the full regiment. In the Third Annual Report, the regiment’s numbers are given for 9 different dates. Taking an average of the 9 snapshots yields an average strength of 558 men, which after subtracting for 10 regimental staff officers, then dividing by the 10 companies, comes out to an average of 55 men in each company – coincidentally, perhaps, the same number of men in this photograph.

The regiment was engaged in about a dozen actions, including the Second Battle of Bull Run, South Mountain, Battle of Antietam, and at Fredericksburg. The total number of men that served in the regiment, over the course of the 2 years, is given as 1250 men. Of that number, 130 were killed in battle, 70 died of disease, 90 were discharged for wounds, and 140 discharged for disability.

The Third Annual Report provides a narrative summary of the regiment’s movements – a couple extracts below, of the 35th regiment at Bull Run and Fredericksburg:

[Second Battle of Bull Run, Aug 28-30, 1862]

“Marching and counter marching with its division during the day of the 29th of August, the regiment at last reached Bull Run, and after the famous charge of the turnpike, found itself on the right; of that road, in the front of the army. While it was lying here with its left against the turnpike (the Twenty-third New York in rear and the Twenty-first and Eightieth New York on the right), the enemy came down the road and delivered a sharp fire. It immediately rose and returned the fire, but at that moment the Twenty-third mistaking the Thirty-fifth for the enemy, rose and delivered its fire, killing five and wounding eight of the Thirty-fifth. The firing was continued for a few moments and then Col. Lord ordered the Thirty-fifth to charge. This movement was executed with vigor and the enemy driven from the field. During the engagement the regiment had nine killed and thirteen wounded…..”

“On Saturday, early in the morning, the brigade was moved nearly a mile to the right and rear, and it was thought that no fighting would be done by it during the day. At about 9 ½ A.M., however, orders came to move to the front, where it formed part of the first line which advanced in front of our artillery, and lying upon the ground, received the enemy's fire for three or four hours without returning it. The position of the regiment here was behind a stone wall, near the turnpike, where it lost 72 in killed and wounded. When the retreat commenced it was withdrawn, and reached Centreville about 7 p. m. It did not fire a gun during the day.”

[Fredericksburg, Dec 11-15, 1862]

“During the 13th, the Thirty-fifth occupied an exposed position on a ridge of land, where it received fire from the enemy's artillery for six hours. During this cannonade it lost twelve killed and nineteen wounded—fifteen of the latter suffering amputation of limb. Near night it was reported that the enemy was preparing to charge with cavalry, and squares were formed by several regiments. The Thirty-fifth formed one in rear of two large straw stacks, where it remained until after firing for the day had ceased.”

The excerpts below are from the “Fourth Annual Report of the Bureau of Military Statistics State of New York” [pub 1867]. In addition to statistics, the Bureau of Statistics included in this Fourth Annual Report some biographical sketches and letters. One of those biographies is of an officer of the 35th N.Y., James R. Burnett, which provides accounts of what the regiment experienced in the battles at the Rappahannock, South Mountain, and Antietam. From the Fourth Annual Report:

“The beloved and lamented subject of this brief memoir, James Reuben Barnett, captain of Company H, Thirty-fifth Regiment of New York State Volunteers, was born August 29, 1838, in the village of Peterboro, town of Smithfield, Madison county, N. Y….Captain Barnett was unmarried. For several years previous to his enlistment he was clerk, and afterward partner with his father in mercantile business….”
“He was still residing at the place of his birth, at the time of his enlistment, May 16, 1861. He enlisted for two years, and, upon the organization of his company at Peterboro was chosen first lieutenant……”
“In January, 1862, he obtained a furlough of thirteen days, and made a visit home. On his return to the army he was surprised by the presentation of a beautiful sword and belt from his company……”

[Rappahannock Station, Aug 22-25, 1862]

“It may be well in a sketch like this to quote a little from the frequent letters of Captain Barnett, written during his period of sixteen months' service…. "At eight the next morning (Monday), we started in light marching order. The day was very hot, but we came through by resting from 12 to 6 p. at, then took up the march till 11 p. m., halting two and a half miles in rear of the battle-field. Here we were notified that our division would move to the front and open the general engagement which was to take place next day. It was a beautiful night, clear, with a full moon, and the mountains in full view. During the whole of the night and next morning everything was activity. Ammunition trains moving to the front, and all baggage trains to the rear. We breakfasted at five, Tuesday, and prepared for battle. Orders came for us to move on the enemy at 9 o'clock a. m. Everyone was stirring; the men kept nothing but haversack and canteen, not an overcoat or blanket. Could any outsider have been there, they would have noticed the quiet determination visible on the face of every man. Little was said, but every man seemed to realize the position he was in, and determined to act well his part.”

“P. S. Friday, 22. I wrote the above on Wednesday night. The battle opened early the next morning, and our brigade was immediately ordered to the front to support the batteries. We are receiving reinforcements rapidly. Our regiment was under fire from 9 a. m. till dark. Shot and shell from cannon and musketry almost continually passing over, which we avoided by keeping under cover of rising ground when possible. Our regiment behaved nobly, and were several times under a galling fire from the rebel sharp-shooters. When we were relieved we left the field under a shower of shot and shell from the rebel batteries. About thirty were killed and wounded in our brigade. We drove the enemy over the river which they had succeeded in crossing the preceding night. Our line of battle which rests on the north side of the Rappahannock, must be at least six to ten miles in length."

“The next letter bears date of September 4, written in great haste and fatigue, from Upton Hill: "Dear Father—You are undoubtedly very anxious to hear from me. I hope, ere this, you have received the telegram from the Chaplain announcing our safety. We are, as you see, near our old quarters of last winter, but not in the condition we were then—far from it. We are completely exhausted and worn out. We have marched every day for four weeks and have been in six battles, but, thank God, we are comparatively safe. Company H behaved splendidly in action, and our loss was comparatively light. You can imagine something of our fatigue when I tell you that I have not had my boots or coat off for two weeks. I am too much fatigued to write further, but well."

[South Mountain, Sept 14, 1862]

“Writing to his father on the 15th September, 1862, he says : " We have had another battle (South Mountain), but not a defeat—on the contrary, a decided victory. Saturday night we bivouacked near Frederick, and yesterday morning marched at six o'clock. On we came through Frederick. When we reached this side of the first spur of mountains, although some six miles distant, we could distinctly see the puff of smoke from the cannon. We, of course, knew there was work ahead for us. On we went, across the valley, passing through the next town of Middleton, where, at least at half the houses, ladies were out on the steps with pails of water, giving it out to the tired and thirsty soldiers —and all had a pleasant word for us. The result of such a reception (and it was about the same in Frederick), after having been so long among enemies only, was magical on all. Men were willing and anxious to fight, as the result of the day showed. McClellan is with us, and this adds not a little to the enthusiasm of the troops. Our regiment was, with two others, deployed as skirmishers and sent ahead. We found the enemy in the woods on the mountain-top, when the fighting commenced. It was now about five in the afternoon. The battle had been going on to the left, some two or three hours. Now it raged on the right with us. The terrific roar of artillery and musketry among the mountains, together with the cheers and yells of the men, cannot be imagined. It was awful. Our regiment, being deployed, was, of course, somewhat mixed up. My company was the only one that went into the fight together. I formed them in the woods and got permission of the General to “go in." Our loss was light. The fighting ceased at half-past eight. I left the field with my company at nine P. M. During the night, the enemy disappeared. Fresh troops are in pursuit now…. We are now collecting our men together and shall probably march on in the course of an hour or two. Yesterday we marched 17 miles. When I say we are worn out, it hardly tells the story; but we are in good spirits. Dear father, you must not be much concerned about me. I shall be careful of myself, but shall lead my men and not drive them."

[Battle of Antietam, Sept 17, 1862]

“The above is his last letter. After marching the next day (Tuesday) near to Antietam, the last minute in his diary on that day, 16th, was:, "waiting for orders." By evening the brigade had taken its position for the next day's battle, under cover of a skirt of timber. It had taken it under a terrific fire of artillery from the enemy, which killed several of the regiment. Here they lay down in line of battle, after a day of great fatigue and uncertainty, ready to spring to their feet at a moment's warning. Captain Barnett and his second sergeant Frink, now next to him in command, lay in front of the company, their heads pillowed upon the same blanket. A little after midnight the captain awoke the sergeant, saying he had something he wished to communicate to him. "To-morrow," said he, "we shall have a fearful battle, and I do not expect to survive it. For a long time I have felt that I should not survive the war, but I am determined to die like a man. I have tried to do my duty on every occasion." The sergeant tried in vain to dispel these forebodings. When assured of the love and confidence of his men and their willingness to die for him, he said, "I know it, but you cannot save me." He then preferred this request," When I fall," said he, "it may not be possible to recover my body, but I want you to save my sword and have it sent to my friends; you will find it in my hand." When urged to eat a bit of meat and cracker from the sergeant's haversack, he declined, saying he had eaten nothing since the morning of the previous day.”

“With the dawn of that morning of the fatal 17th, the engagement commenced, and the brigade, General Patrick's, was early called into action. That battle is too well known to need description here. Amid its terrible swayings to and fro, between victory and defeat, our brave captain, just as he had repeated the order of his colonel, fell, sword in hand, at the head of his company, his forehead pierced with a minieball from some rebel sharp-shooter. "Thus, all too soon," says Sergeant Frink," was I called upon to fulfill my promise to our brave captain, which any one of us would have done with our lives." He was instantly taken to a place of comparative safety—attended by his brother officers and a detachment of his men. At first he was supposed to be dead, but consciousness partially returned, so that he could at times recognize his friends and speak their names. A stupor then succeeded, and in about 38 hours from the time of his fall, he breathed his last breath…”

Links:
Capt. James R. Barnet at find-a-grave: www.findagrave.com/memorial/33518395/james-reuben-barnett
Third Annual Report at: archive.org/details/annualrepor1865v3newy/page/n507
Fourth Annual Report at: archive.org/details/annualreport1866newy/page/n405
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Red/Cyan (not red/blue) glasses of the proper density must be used to view 3D effect without ghosting. Anaglyph prepared using red cyan glasses from The Center For Civil War Photography / Civil War Trust.

Taken on: November 18, 2018

Tags:

Thirty-fifth New YorK

35th N.Y.

35th N.Y.S.V.

James R. Barnett

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Sets appears in: • 3D Civil War - 1862 • 3D Civil War Glass Plates

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