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A. LincolnThe New York 79 th Highlanders |
From The Union Vidette,Published "every now and then" at Lebanon, Kentucky Independent Companies clad in the garb of old Gaul have long existed, and made periodical promenades in the principal cities and towns of the United States. Such a company, called The Highland Guard, was attached to the 2 nd Regiment N.Y.S.M. An order required, sometime previous to the outbreak of the rebellion that the State uniform should be adopted by all military organizations thus to insure uniformity, and to do away with piebald Regiments. The sects of New York city speedily took measures to have the Highland Guard mustered out of service, and to have a Scotch Regiment raised. A fine Regiment, equipped and dressed in the tartan, was speedily offered for service, and was accepted by the Governor. The 79 th soon gained a high reputation, a reputation, let us say, which has only been added to since the regiment came into active service. The men of the 79 th have never disgraced the tartan, and although the [illegible] of dress has been suspended, both friends and foe know full well the shape and step of the Highlanders. The 79 th was one of the first regiments to volunteer its services to defend the National Capital, on the outbreak of the rebellion. Its services were declined until the month of May, 1861, when the whole regiment gallantly volunteered for the war. In a brief sketch we cannot do justice to the eminent service which this regiment has rendered the country. At the First Bull Run it was the last regiment engaged, and sustained a loss of nearly 200 men, killed, wounded, and prisoners.---The great majority of the prisoners were also wounded. Among the wounded was the brave old Colonel Cameron. After Bull Run, the regiment mutinied.--The cause of the mutiny we shall state in a few words. It was announced at dress parade by authority of the officer in command, (an officer, let us say, who had never smelt powder,) that the regiment was ordered home to recruit. Expectations built on this announcement were speedily dissipated, and a portion of the men rebelled. Some innocent men suffered in the punishment that was awarded, the commanding officer resigned, and a humane but firm and resolute officer took command of the Regiment. The new commander was Colonel, afterwards General Stevens, a hero in word and in deed--a patriot and a (illegible). Gen Stevens was killed at Chantilly, with the colors of the 79 th in his hand--after six color bearers had been shot down. Under Stevens the 79 th was perpetually in the front in Virginia, doing excellent service and maintaining a high name. Gen. Stevens, being ordered to join Gen. Sherman in the expedition to South Carolina, the "Tak' us with ye" which he was then hailed (Oct., 1661,) [sic] will be fresh in the memories of all.--He took the 79 th with him, and most creditably did the regiment behave in all operations down South. In the battle of James Island, the fiercest of the war the enemy say, there were lost in killed and wounded of the 79 th one-fourth its entire strength, while the 8 th Michigan, a companion regiment on many a well-fought field, suffered still more severely. Called back to Virginia in July, 1852 [sic], after the repulse of McClellan, the 79 th Regiment was actively engaged on the Rappahannock until the second Bull Run, and with little pause was sent into Maryland, and took a distinguished part in the battles of South Mountain and Antietam. The 79 th was also at Fredericksburg, and it has been the good or evil fortune of the regiment to be booked for a fight wherever it goes. We are compelled to omit the names of many brave officers who have served and bled, but the names of Morrison, Farnsworth and Stevens, have been rendered historical in connection with the regiment. A history of the 79 th is impracticable here, and appreciating well the circumstance that a dry string of facts is uninteresting unless accompanied by incidents, the writer of this brief sketch may well beg pardon for the little he has said, and the larger amount which he has left unsaid with regard to a regiment known and admired "all the world over." |
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