The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1907-06-06
A short sketch Of Army Life.

Editor National Tribune: About May
10, 1861, my brother and / being expert
riflemen, concluded to eniis. in an indie
pendent rifle company then forming I'M
der Capt. L. G.. Harmon, of Allegheny,
N. Y. After signing the enlistment roll
we were given 10 days to join the COM
pany at Ellicottville, N. Y, but on ar
irving there on the appointed day found
the company reported to be at Allie
gheny, and after short consultation
with my brother we decided to follow
them. On reaching Allegheny we found
that the company had gone to Elmira,
and followed taem to that place, board
ing train and paying our fare, reach
ing Elmira the next day. There we
found the company, and reported al
once to the Captain, who informed US
that he had more men than allowed
and could not take us. After talking
the matter over We requested the Cap
tain to allow us to go to New York City
with the company, thinking, perhaps,
there we might find a vacancy. After
some hesitation the Captain allowed us
to accompany them, and after arriving
in New York we were allowed to take
the place of some men who did not care
to go any further with the company.
We were then sworn into the United
States service, and became part of co.
H, 37th n. Y. We remained in New
York two or three weeks, drilling, ETC.,
and were then ordered to Washington
We went into camp on Capitol Hill,
where we stayedtuntil about July, when
we We're ordered to proceed TO the first
battle of Bull RHn. After this terrible
disaster Cos. II and l were detached
from the regiment. and for short time
were placed at 8 Fort Ellsworth, near
Alexandria. From there we went to
Seminary Hill, and encamped there for
a short time, when we We're ordered IL
Bailey's Crossroads. After a. short
slsirmish with the enemy at that place
we went back thru Alexandria to Wash
ington, where we were placed as a
guard at the Presidents Mansion for a
short time. Later we were ordered to
Fort Washington as its garrison, re-
naming there until the following
Spring. While here my brother had his
right hand injured and was discharged
from the service. ! was then ordered
to join my regiment in front of York
town, which took part in the siege until
the evacuation We then followed the
enemy 10 VILLA msburg, at which place
L sharp battle was fought and some OF
our men killed, hut we drove the enemy
from the trenches and fortificatiOns
and they retreated towards Richmond
Our army still advanced until we reach
ed Fair Oaks, where another terrible
battle ensued which lasted two days
Our force remained before Richmond
for a time, and Gen. Mcdowell being
removed from our right flank, uncover
ing and endangering or communica-
ton, compelled us to abandon our posi-
ton, and after seven days terrible
fighting We arrived at Malvern Hill
where the great decisive battle of the
campaign was fought. In this battle our
roops were victorious but l was in
iured by a shell in the left hip, from
which / have never recovered. l was
taken from there to the hospital al
Newark, n. j., from which place / was
discharged the last of February, 1868
If any of the 37th n. Y. boys should see
his, / wish they would write men,
Frank G. Hammond, Co. II. 37th n. Y.
PittSfield, Pa.