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“ Sergeant Clark is as good a soldier as he is a perfect engraver, and as good an officer as he is [118] skillful and perfect in the various arts of which he is master. With no show of arrogance on account of his attainments, he fulfills his duties as a member of the DeWitt Guard as cheerfully and as consistent as he does any and all the duties of a good citizen, and an upright member of society. He was honored by the members of the Company by being elected in the first place to the vacancy occasioned by the promotion of the fourth Corporal ”

“ A finer soldier never shouldered a gun, a perfect gentleman, a splendid mechanic, and [120] a citizen respected by all who know him. One of the best shots in the Company, invariably taking a prize at the target shoots. He volunteered and was mustered in the United States service with the Company in 1864. No more faithful or better soldier ever swore in the service, always ready to do any thing he was called upon, and many times did double duty to relieve others whom he thought not as well able to perform the labor as himself. ”

“ Here in one corner you might see a six-footer striving in vain to induce a pair of pants, by hard pulling and stretching, to reach below his knees, but finding no virtue in perseverance, he seizes the coat and finds to his dismay the same difficulty with the sleeves that he found with the pants—namely, too short. As he sits studying over his misfortune, he is hailed by another fellow just his counterpart, hobbling across the floor with a pair of pants so long that they threaten to trip him at every step. ”

“ He served with his Company during their term of enlistment in the United States army. No better soldier can be found, not even in the regular army, than Sergeant Finch. The most regular attendant at the drills, meetings and parades, of any member ever connected with the Company. As will be noticed, he enlisted over six years ago, and during that time has never paid a fine. He is one of the most unassuming, yet one of the noblest and most generous young men of Ithaca. ”

“ One might draw a grand comparison between the way in which our men were treated in the different prisons of the South, and the treatment of rebels at the hands of our Government. We who have seen the worn-out, hobbling rebel prisoner, go forth exchanged, after a few months' imprisonment, a strong and healthy man, cannot but feel the contrast when we see old friends, who, months ago were freed from Southern prisons, even now unable to stand the burden of any daily toil, and still wearing in their deep-lined faces the marks of past hardships. ”

“ Although our three months' work, in the mere point of dollars and cents, was a loss to every man, yet I doubt if there is one who regrets having spent this much time in the government service. Each man received a regular discharge which in years hence he may refer to with somewhat of pride at the thought of having done even his mite in serving his country and contributed a little towards suppressing the rebellion. We were regularly enlisted in the United States army, and subject in every particular to the same treatment and usage as any of the men in the government employ. ”

“ Gauntlett has always been as popular as a soldier, as he is a citizen and associate. He is of the class that we would always like to retain as members; but to meet the demands of superior officers, we are obliged to relinquish our claim upon them. Starting from the ranks, Sergeant Gauntlett had reached the post of fourth Sergeant, when Colonel Barto selected him as Regimental Standard-bearer, which office he now holds. Not feeling disposed to leave his old friends, however, he retains his membership and position in the Company, and still acts with them, except on Regimental parade. ”

“ In civil life he is none the less honored, having filled public offices with equal success.
He has been not only a good soldier, a respected Lieutenant, honored Captain and esteemed Colonel, but is a citizen of the highest standing and respected by every one.
H. J. Wilson, Painter, enlisted January 1st, 1852. Mr. Wilson served his full time and received an honorable discharge as a soldier, but is still connected with the Regiment as a musician. [39] It is the strong desire of every member of the Company, as well as of the Regiment, that his membership may be continued yet many years. ”

“ He looks as if he had lost his last friend, and never expected to have another. We rush up to enquire the cause of his discomforture, but our anxiety is turned into laughter, when we behold him who had been congratulating himself on making such a fine appearance in a suit of blue; brushing off the threads and dust, and picking up one thread which seemed to be very long, but only producing the more thread by the greater picking, our fine fellow finds that he has ventilated the entire side of one of his trowsers legs. ”

“ Our object in giving to the public a full, true, and concise history of Company A, 50th Regiment National Guard, State of New York, better known to the citizens of Ithaca as the DeWitt Guard, is to show as honorable a record as can be produced by any similar organization—so far as the membership of this Company was connected with the army and navy of the United States during the late rebellion. ”

“ In the latter part of May, 1862, and just prior to the battle of Fair Oaks, by orders of General McClellan, the first ration of whiskey was issued to the troops. This being incompatible with the principles of General Glenny, he at once called his men in line, and stated that he believed the new element just introduced in the army was destructive of its best interests, prejudicial to its health, efficiency and discipline, and rather than stultify his conscience by being responsible for its issue, he would suffer himself to be cashiered for disobedience of orders. ”

“ Our officers were ever watchful to promote the comfort and best interest of the men, striving in a hundred different ways to lighten the duties imposed on the men, providing everything in their power to relieve the sick, besides, at a personal expense, contributing many articles of food or camp furniture, so that, by their exertions, the irksomeness of our duties was destroyed, and every man considered it more of a pleasure than an obligation to obey their commands. ”

“ He has seen the time when he had command of more musicians alone than this Company at any one time ever numbered as members. He always enjoyed being a military man, and we believe there could be no greater pleasure for the Major to-day, than to head a column of a few hundred men and march through the streets of Ithaca, as he has done in years gone by. ”

“ Our Company as a whole were well treated in every instance, enjoying many advantages which the social position of the members secured to them, and we were allowed privileges which were hardly expected; in fact our standard of capabilities was raised so high that our men were constantly being detailed for some special duty, requiring men of more than ordinary intellect and foresight to accomplish. ”

“ Sept. 2d, 1864.—The Company assembled at the Armory at 6 o'clock, A. M., with tears in their eyes and carpet-sacks in hand, to march for Elmira. Headed by their gallant Captain, they proceeded silently to the Depot, where the parting was truly heart-rending, and the Secretary, in order to hide his feelings, was forced to take refuge in a freight car, and solace himself with a fresh chew of Mike Wick's best. The voyage was safely performed, the only cause of complaint being the rye treatment which some of the men received at Willseyville. ”

“ Auburn, the loveliest city of the plain, the loser; but Ithaca, the Forest City, the gainer. All must concede that no one was more deserving, or better entitled to the prize, than our respected soldier. A very noticeable and singular incident in connection with our excursion to Auburn, we came near forgetting, which should be mentioned here. It is this: that at that time, Sergeant Hazen was Company Secretary, and the account of that trip, so fully and graphically given, in another part of this book, is taken verbatim from his minutes. ”

“ In the evening the Company were the guests of Doctor Willard, and was splendidly entertained at his beautiful residence [156] on Genesee street. The Doctor is a model gentleman; truly did we enjoy his hospitality. From his residence we were marched to that of Captain Dodge of the Willard Guard, where a splendid reception was given in honor of the DeWitt Guard. Here we were honored with the society of some of Auburn's fairest daughters, their influence on us being such as (in the language of our worthy Chaplain, Rev. W. C. Steel) to make some willing captives. ”

“ Hark! the Orderly cries "fall in for rations;" although we may not yet be perfectly acquainted with all orders pertaining particularly to camp life, yet all seem to understand this one. With a good appetite after our fun, we start for the mess-house. Some hungry man behind us as we march along, hopes the beef steak will be tender, and the potatoes well done, while another hints he does not like eggs too hard boiled, and [167] a third says he must have his rolls hot, and good butter to eat on them, or he don't care for any supper ”

“ As we enter, every man immediately loses his appetite; but bound to face the music, we all sit down, place our cups and plates on the table, and await coming events. Presently there comes a man with a basket of bread, another with a pan of beef and a third with a pail of coffee. ”

“ Neyhart was much of the time separated from the Company, but always prompt in meeting his obligations and sustaining the Company in every possible way, aside from being personally present. Furnished a substitute who represented him in the United States army, suffered many reverses in business, but fortunately his last investment was a good one—he struck oil—and is now again "sound."
We congratulate him; no one has worked harder for, or is better entitled to, a two hundred and fifty barrel well than Adnah. ”

“ Undoubtedly, however, these necessary qualifications were more apparent to others than himself, as he was soon elected Corporal, from which he was promoted to Sergeant, and most worthily did he fill his office, until having served his seven years he was granted an honorable discharge. Our sincere regrets are extended to any Company which does not number among its members at least one man like Sergeant Partenheimer. A more true and devoted soldier never existed ”

“ Our bread and butter man seems patiently waiting, although very pale, and is only aroused from his stupor by a neighbor asking him if he is not going to eat; he meekly answers, by saying he is waiting for some sugar and milk for his coffee. ”

“ Look at that perfect picture of despair; a fellow who at home wears a number five boot, trying to make a pair of number ten shoes stay on his feet. Presently, however, a man is found whose fortune has dealt to him a pair of "gun-boats" a size too small, immediately, with true yankee spirit, a trade is made, and each is satisfied that he has made the best of the [166] bargain; so by dint of exchanges, garments are found to fit, which at first seemed as if they had been distributed by common consent, the smallest men to receive those intended for the largest, and vice versa. ”

“ Town Clerk, Notary Public, Trustee of the village, President of same repeatedly, Chief Engineer of the Fire Department for many years in succession, and also served his [29] town in the Board of Supervisors of Tompkins county. Each of the above mentioned offices he has filled with honor to himself, and for us to say with satisfaction to the people, would be superfluous. It is worthy of note, that Captain Partenheimer never was ambitious for office; that all the offices he has filled, both civil and military, have been thrust upon him ”

“ Never wanted much to do with a person who did not feel as good as himself. Was worth at the encampment spoken of above, more than some whole Companies. Had the advantages of an early education and good bringing up, used to living well at home, and believed in living well in camp—and did. No person, although he might be President of all the Banks in Hungary, could pass the line when he was the sentinel. He was athletic, not only in person but in mind, and too much good cannot be said of him as a soldier and a citizen. The Company sustained a severe loss when Mr. ”

“ It was a shameful way of treating human beings, crowded together for two days with barely room to move in, and being required to assume all manner of positions at night in order to get a little rest. Although [169] sufficient rations were purported to be issued for the journey, yet they never sufficed, and the men often suffered from hunger. Yet in time Baltimore was reached, where all the men were generally put into comfortable quarters for a day or so, and then placed on board transports to be taken to different points on the Potomac or James Rivers. ”

“ The Orderly, in his pleasant manner, would say to the men: "Please report for duty, to-morrow morning," and invariably the men were there. Every member of the Company, not only but very many officers and men with whom we were associated while in Elmira, became very much attached to Sergeant Hazen; and all this, not without cause, for certainly he was one of the very best men in camp. ”