150 Years Ago - Camp Malone

Judson Cheney
Born: May 11, 1838, Hopkinton, St. Lawrence County, New York
Died: September 29, 1864, Chaffin Farm, Virginia
Relation to Author: 2nd Great Grand Uncle

I wrote on November 12 that Judson had enlisted in the army on that date 150 years ago, thus beginning his action in the American Civil War. After enlisting, Judson's next step was to go to camp with the regiment in Malone, where he stayed until the regiment mustered in to the army and traveled to Washington, DC. Here is how William Kreutzer (author of a book describing his time in the 98th Regiment, from which I am drawing heavily draw from) describes the scene: 

In each camp the men were drilled daily in the School of the Soldier and of the Company, according to the Tactics of Hardee, as promulgated by the general Government...

The rendezvous at Lyons and Malone created excitement throughout the counties. The war feeling ran high, and a disposition to sustain the Government against an armed rebellion was universal... A few arms were procured for drill and guard duty. These, with the uniforms, made a wonderful change in the appearance of the men, and gave them some of the characteristics of a standing army. The companies, while in line, appeared like organized bodies. Men came for miles, bringing their wives and children, to "see the soldiers drill."

All of the supplies Judson and the rest of the volunteers needed (clothing, quarters, blankets, knapsacks, subsistence, medical attendance) were provided by the state.

According to Kreutzer, the 98th Regiment had 10 companies (3 from Lyons and 7 from Malone) and a total of 910 men (872 enlisted, 38 officers). James McPhearson says this was the typical size of a regiment - both for the Union and Confederates - during the Civil War: 1,000 men organized in 10 companies. 

Kreutzer says that this regiment was similar to the other volunteer regiments in the state. But he does say this about the Franklin County volunteers:

"A large proportion of those from Franklin County were farmers and lumbermen; and to march, to dig, to build roads and bridges, to endure hardships and exposure, fatigue and privations, was their element."

We can assume that Judon is included among the men Kreutzer is talking about since his occupation on the 1860 census was "farm laborer".