Sunday, March 10, 2013

Three Men OF The Forty-Fourth New York Infantry.

GURNSEY, DILAS and DELOS W.—Age, 19 years. Enlisted, September 15, 1861, at Albany, to serve three years; mustered in as private, Go. H, September 20, 1861; wounded while on picket, April
30, 1862, in front of Yorktown, Ya.; died of his wounds, May I, 1862, at Camp Scott, Ya.; also borne as Delos W.

Siege of Yorktown.

Delos W. Guernsey of Company H was mortally wounded by a shell. He was the first member of the regiment killed. He was given a military funeral and was buried a short distance from camp.
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DUNHAM, EUGENE L.—Age, 23 years. Enrolled, August 8, 1861, at Albany, to serve three years; mustered in as first sergeant,Co. D, August 30, 1861; mustered in as second lieutenant, August 19, 1862; promoted first lieutenant, April 16, 1863; killed in action, July 2, 1863, at Gettysburg, Pa.; commissioned second lieutenant, November 11, 1862, with rank from August 19, 1862, vice H. D. Burdick, resigned; first lieutenant. May 30, 1863, with rank from April 16, 1863.

EUGENE L. DUNHAM.

Born in Hamilton County, N. Y., January 18, 1839. Possessing a brave and ardent spirit, with a keen sense of wrong and injustice, from his youth he was noted for his steady adherence to right and truth
and for the good example he continually placed before his associates.

Upon the breaking out of the Rebellion he was desirous of joining the Union Army immediately, but at the request of friends he postponed his enlistment. When the news of the assassination of Ellsworth spread through the land, and the brave old state of New York called for a Regiment, to be composed of the flower of her young men, selected from every town, he was one of the first to offer himself.
Was enrolled as First Sergeant. Company D. 44th N. Y. V. I., in Aug.. 1861. With this regiment he served continuously until the memorable 2d dav of Julv. 1863, when at the Battle of Gettvsburg he was killed.

Beloved by his companions, honored and respected by his superiors, by gallant and meritorious conduct he rose from First Sergeant to First Lieutenant, and for several months previous to his death, was acting captain of his company.
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LARRABEE, LUCIUS S.—Age, 24 years. Enrolled, August 8, 1861, at Albany, to serve three years; mustered in as first lieutenant, Co. B, August 10, 1861; as captain, September 19, 1861; wounded in action, August 30, 1862, at Groveton, Va.; killed in action, July 2, 1863, at Gettysburg, Pa.; prior service as first lieutenant in Co. F, Eleventh Infantry; commissioned first lieutenant, October 12, 1861, with rank from August 8,1861, 'Original; captain, October 12, 1861, with rank from September 31, 1861, vice S. W. Stryker, promoted.

The son of Lucius Calender Larrabee was born at Ticonderoga, N. Y., July 29, 1837. He lived at this historic place with his father and sister, his mother having died when he was at the age of three years. When about eleven years old he removed with his sister's family to Albany. N. Y., where he remained for several years. At the age of fifteen years he took up his residence in Chicago with his brother, Mr. Charles R. Larrabee, an old and respected citizen of that city.

Battle of Little Round Top.

Capt. Larabee, when ordered, promptly moved his company to the front, deployed as skirmishers, and advanced.  He had advanced less than 200 yards when he came upon the enemy, only a short distance away, advancing in two or more lines of battle. He at once ordered his skirmishers in retreat. While executing this movement, he was shot through the body and instantly killed. He was a brave, competent and faithful officer. His death was a great loss and caused much sorrow to the entire regiment.

Capt. Lucius S. Larabee, in conversation with Captains Bourne and Kimberly, said: "Since our last battle I have known that I would be killed the next time I was under fire. And he said he wished them to take his watch, money and valuables. They endeavored to cheer him up and told him he was no more liable to be killed than either of them. The premonition had taken such a strong hold of him that he was unable to shake it off. He left, with Quartermaster Mundy, his watch and valuables and the address of his brother in Chicago. That done, he went into battle, facing with undaunted courage his fore-doomed destiny. While the line was forming on Little Round Top, he was ordered to take his Company and deploy it as skirmishers, which he promptly proceeded to do. As he left his position in line, Capt. Bourne spoke to him, wishing him good luck. He replied, "Good bye, Billy, I shall never see you again." In this unexpected order he saw the setting sun of his pure, noble life. After advancing about 200 yards, he suddenly came upon the enemy's first line of battle, and was killed at the first volley. No braver soldier, no purer or truer spirit took its flight from that blood-drenched field.



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