Participation
154th NY Monument
Monument Dedication - 1996
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Speech by Phil Palen
Gowanda Historical Society, Gowanda, New York
May 26, 1996
Honored Guests, Descendants and Friends of the 154th New York State Infantry
Volunteers:
Speaking on behalf of those non-descendants
like myself, and of local historical societies from Western New York State who
have contributed to the creation of this monument, we are gathered here this day
to commemorate the heroic stand that 590 men of the 154th New York Volunteers
made in defense of the American Union on May, 2 1863, near this site.
For about 30 of them, that day would be
their last day on Earth. Many more would soon die in field hospitals from wounds
suffered in this battle; many more would be captured and sent away to perish in
prisoner of war camps far away from their homes; still others would carry
physical reminders of this battle to their dying day.
Among those whom died on this field was
45-year-old Private Barzilla Merrill of Company K, who enlisted the previous
summer in the Cattaraugus County Town of dayton. During Stonewall Jackson's
famopus attack on the Union right flank as the fiery sun silhouetted the surging
Confederate onslaught, Private Merrill fell from atleast 2 gunshot woounds. His
18-year-old son Alva survived this attack only to lose his life the next day
while thrown in line with troops from other regiments. Neither body was ever
recovered, and they are presumed to be buried on this field.
In honor of their sacrifice, and of all the men of Cattaraugus County, New York, we
bring soil from the farm which the Merrills left behind when they answered
President Lincoln's call to preserve the Union.
[The soil was spread around the monument by three descendants of Barzilla
Merrill: great-great-grandson Robert Merrill Sherwood;
great-great-great-grandson Scott Sherwood; and great-great-great-granddaughter
Carolyn Schuyler]
May this soil from their native land, once
worked bythe toil of their own hands to sustain them in life, mingle again with
their earthly remains and nourish their immortal souls.
In honor of the men of Companies E and F of
the 154th New York, who were recruited from Chautauqua County, we bring this
sand from the wave-lapped shores of Lake Erie, whose glorious sunsets and
delightful summer breezes brought joy to their earthly lives. May the mingling
of this sand with the red clay of this hallowed field bring peace and serenity
to thier immortal souls.
[The sand was spread around the monument by Matt Parsons, great-grandson of
Corporal James P. Skiff of Company F, who enlisted at Charlotte, Chautauqua
County.]
And Now, we place this wreathfrom Chautauqua County's vineyards in memory of that
county's soldiers who struggled here at Chancellorsville. Let us especially
rememeber Captian Joseph B. Fay of Company E, Portland, whose father, Deacon
Elijah Fay, planted the first vineyard in Chautauqua County in 1824. Joseph B.
Fay himself built the first winery there in 1859, three years before he
organized Company E of this regiment.
[The grapevine wreath was placed by Phil Palen]
Finally, in memory of those men of old Cattaraugus and Chautuaqua who suffered and died here for
the life of their country, let these symbols of home forge an unbreakable and
eternal link between their beloved native land and the red Virginia clay of
Chancellorsville
Source: The Lincourt Historical Collection
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