Wayne County NY Military Roe's History of the 9th Artillery Ch. 28

The Ninth New York
Heavy Artillery

A History of its Organization, Services in the Defenses of Washington, Marches, Camps, Battles, and Muster-Out, with Accounts of Life in a Rebel Prison, Personal Experiences, Names and Addresses of Surviving Members, Personal Sketches, and a Complete Roster of the Regiment.

Alfred Seelye Roe of Company A

Published by the Author, Worcester, Mass., 1899.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

PERSONAL EXPERIENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR

BY MRS. JANET W. SEWARD

Written for "The Fortnightly," a Woman's Literary Club in Auburn, N.Y., January 20th, 1895.

I was married on June 27th, 1860. The war began, as you know, in April, 1861.

The first regiment raised here was the 19th New York State Volunteers; John S. Clark, Colonel; my husband's cousin, Clarence A. Seward, Lieutenant Colonel; the Rev. Henry Fowler, pastor of my church, the Central Presbyterian, Chaplain.

The regiment must have a stand of colors, so a meeting of ladies was called. I was one of a committee appointed to raise money and procure the flags. We went to George Clough, the artist, and he painted the "coat of arms of the state of New York" on the blue banner, from a picture of it which I found in the State Constitution.

The regiment was then in camp near Elmira. This committee, with several other ladies, accompanied by a committee of gentlemen, went to Elmira, and Charles C. Dwight presented the regimental banner and B.F. Hall the national colors, in behalf of the ladies of Auburn.

My first sight of the active operations of the war was in September of 1861, when I went with Mrs. Seward and Fanny, my husband's mother and sister, to Washington. At Havre de Grace we came upon the first camp stationed there to guard the railroad and ferry. All the rest of the way through Baltimore and on to Washington, soldiers were doing guard and picket duty along the railroad. It was a novel sight to see these "Blue Coats" in almost a continuous line for more than 150 miles, some guarding, some building block-houses, some washing or cooking, some asleep on the bare ground, others surrounding small camp-fires cleaning their arms, many smoking or singing as they performed their various duties.

Soon after reaching Washington, we went one afternoon to drive with Mr. Lincoln and Mr. Seward, visiting several of the camps and earthworks. Mr. Lincoln was very cordial and kind to me, explaining with great interest all which we saw en route.

At another time Mr. Seward took Fanny and me to the White...............

The above is just one page worth of text. There are 18 1/2 pages more pages of Mrs. Seward's account of her observations about women's roles on the homefront, the troops, coping with war news and rumors, her husband's illness and coming back home, etc.

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