James Riley Stone, Capt.

157th New York Infantry Regiment, company F

The 157th Regiment lost 7 officers and 87 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded and 2 officers and 104 enlisted men to disease during the Civil War.

It is honored by two monuments and a marker at Gettysburg.

• *********************************************************** August 12, 1864 Captain J. Riley Stone, captured at Gettysburg, died a prisoner of war at Macon, Georgia.
  • ********************************************************** -He was actually imprisoned at Camp Oglethorpe which is now a county park and fairgrounds. Union officers were imprisoned there while Andersonville was for enlisted prisoners.

In 1862 a prison pen known as Camp Oglethorpe, was opened in Macon. Wedged between railroad tracks and the Ocmulgee River, the site was enclosed by a rough stockade on fifteen to twenty acres. Nearly 1,000 prisoners arrived in May to find several buildings within, including one large enough to use as a hospital. The prisoners were a mixture of officers and enlisted men. Their living quarters consisted of sheds or stalls already on site or shelters constructed from materials found within the stockade. As a result of a formal exchange cartel agreed on by the combating powers, most of these prisoners gained their freedom, and by the beginning of 1863, Camp Oglethorpe was nearly abandoned.

The breakdown of prisoner exchanges, combined with Union general William T. Sherman's Georgia campaign, forced the Confederacy to reopen the facility as an officers' prison. By the summer of 1864, more than 2,300 Union officers were housed there.

• *********************************************************** In Andersonville cemetery per their website referencing film M551, Roll 136.

(I have an inquiry in to the cemetery asking if the grave is marked and a plot number. 7/13/12 KG)

• ***********************************************************

The Veterans Remembered Article from the Oneida Post, July 8, 1893, p. 8, col. 1.

On the south side of the soldiers' monument at Peterboro is the inscription: "Smithfield gave of her men; let us honor the gallant seventy-five."

Did 75 men from the Town of Smithfield serve during the Civil War? On the day that the monument was dedicated, July 4, 1893, William S. Martindale, one of those veterans, supplied a very different number - 108! Following are the names that he recounted from memory (in the order he gave them):

Charles Stiles, James Green, Patrick Short, Peter Rice, Frank Hayes (sic) (Hays), John Munson, George Steams, William Chaffee, A. C. Baum, Ephraim House, George Tower, Uzal Parkhurst, William Lowery, John Fitzpatrick, John Hicks, Eugene Dickey, Richard Willoughby, Oliver Elmer, J.Wallace Clark, Jerome Marsh, Henry H. Rickard, John Woodcock, Samuel Johnston, Sidney Charles, Neil Eastman, Philip Eastman, Joseph Hleney [Henerey?], Bela Parks, A. S. Douglass, Ira 0. Ellenwod, Benjamin Parks, Rinaldo 0. Coe, Perry Cleveland, Ezra Strough, David Fanner, Frank McCurley, Edward McCurley, Elias Conder, Alexander Dickey, Samuel Hitchcock, Benjamin Metcalf, Daniel K. Bishop, James Mahah, Harvey Elmor, Addison Elmor, Franklin Parkhurst, Natham[n?] Parkhurst, Asel P. Stone, Lewis Stewart, John Hesslin, Carlos V. Palmer, Edwin D. Messenger, Dorrance Messenger, Seth Moon, Newell L. Douglass, Laban Robbins, Albert Robbins, Henry Charles, Charles Osbom, Henry Shurts, James Wallace, John A. Campbell, James Barnett, Thomas Barnett, J. Riley Stone, William A. Stone, Henry Devan, David Devan, Milto [Milo?] Devan, Wallace Devan, Jay Devan, Truman Devan, Hanson Williams, Daniel Torrey, Robert Torrey, Lafayette McWilliams, William E. Mattson, Jay Berry, Bertrand Hardy, Patrick H. Rich, Green Smith, John Rollins, George Newman, James Newman, Horace Beach, David Butler, Cornelius Butler, John Dolley, Quincy H. Martindale, William S. Martindale, William Clark, Thomas Neville, William Johnston, Richard Russell, Garrett Russell, John Harvey, Willard Petrie, Burton Brown, Clark Nellis, T. Foster Petrie, [J. Warren] Folts, Nathan Stone, William Henry Clark, James Douglass, Joseph Hart, John Hart, Patrick Neville, Aaron T. Bliss.

• ***********************************************************

He married Pamelia Coe Ellinwood on March 29, 1849.

Their children:

Willis C Stone 1855 – James Asahel Stone 1856 – 1946 Orna P. Stone 1859 – Mina Stone 1860 – Orlando Lincoln Stone 1861-1938

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ His brother-in -law, Ira O. Ellinwood, served in the same company.

His cousin, William A. Stone, was also in Company F, died in 1891 in Ohio.

• ***********************************************************

The Dark Days of the Rebellion

James Riley Stone, was born on May 27, 1822 in Smithfield, Madison County, New York. No record of his parents has been found, but it was written that they were of Welsh and English heritage and that they came to New York from Connecticut.

A Stone Mason: Riley began his career in farming and later worked as a stone mason. The Stone family was ever one of distinction in New York state, and as a stone mason, Riley had few peers in his profession. Many monuments of his skill and handiwork are still to be seen at Peterboro, New York. James Stone married Pamela Coe Ellinwood on March 29, 1849.

The Civil War: During the dark days of the of the Rebellion, he recruited Company F, of the 157th New York Volunteer Infantry, and was commissioned captain of his company, being mustered in as such September 19, 1862. He was in the Army of the Potomac, and took part in the battles of the Wilderness (Chancellorsville) and at Gettysburg.

Prisoner of War: At the battle of Gettysburg, he was taken prisoner and sent to Libby Prison. He spent about 11 months there and was then transferred to Macon, Georgia, where he died August 12, 1864. "After one year spent in Libby prison, during which time he endured untold hardships, he was transferred to a prison near Macon, Georgia, where he died August 12, 1864, at the age of forty years. He was a brave soldier and was greatly respected by his men as well as his fellow officers. James died from "disease contacted in the service of the United States" while in a rebel prisoner of War Camp, on August 12, 1864 near Macon, Georgia. He was 42 years old.

The following was obtained from Donna Dorrance Burdick. It is published in a book about Smithfield "page 13, Snipets, Volume 2" "Not so many years ago, a "stone arch" bridge spanned Oneida Creek in the Village of Peterboro on the Oxbow Road. When it was dismantled in 1977, the bridge was believed to be the oldest bridge in the state. It had previously been repaired in 1894, 1937 or 1938, and 1943. There is a story that colonial coins were buried in the structure when it was built. The Madison County Historical Society owns a Susan Dixwell Miller "blueprint" photo of this bridge. The keystone was salvaged and can be seen at the Peterboro Area Historical Society's museum. Its inscription reads: Erected A.D. 1854 by R.S. James Riley Stone was most frequently known as J. Riley of simply Riley Stone. It was he, a mason living in Pleasant Valley, who cut and laid the stone for the bridge. The stone was drawn to the location by ox team and horses.

In 1861 and 1862, Stone served as Supervisor of the Town of Smithfield. On 12 August 1862, J. Riley, aged 39, enlisted at Hamilton, New York, in Company F, 157th New York Volunteer Infantry. He was mustered as Captain of that company on September 19. On the first day of fighting at Gettysburg, 1 July 1863, Stone was captured by the Confederates. He was first sent to Libby Prison in Richmond, Virginia. Later he was transferred to the officer's prison at Macon, Georgia.

One of Riley's fellow prisoners at Macon was Frank Place of Cortland, New York. Place was Captain of Company C, 157th. Prior to Place's parole in March of 1864, Riley asked him to deliver his watch and other valuables to his family in Smithfield. This Place (later Major Place) agreed to do. James Riley died of starvation on 12 August 1864 and was buried at Macon.

He left a widow, Pamela C., and five children in Smithfield. Four sons were named Willis C., James A., Orna P, and Orlando Lincoln. The daughter was named Mina L. The family moved west where the sons became successful businessmen, doctors, and lawyers. Many years later, James A. Stone, a lawyer in Wisconsin, brought his daughter to Peterboro to show her the bridge that his grandfather had built.

• **********************************************************

157th Regiment at Gettysburg.

The following is a list of the field, staff and line officers:— Colonel—Philip P. Brown, Jr. Lieutenant Colonel—George Arrowsmith. Major— James C. Carmichael. Quartermaster—Perrin H. McGraw. Surgeon—Henry C Hendrick. First Assistant Surgeon—Frank D. Beebe. Second Asst. Surgeon—J. Mortimer Crawe. Chaplain—Charles Barstow. Company A—Captain, Jonathan Hunt Smith; First. Lieutenant, George R. Seaton; Second Lieutenant, Julius D. Palmer. Company B—Captain, Thomas J. Randall; First Lieutenant, Osbert E. Messinger; Second Lieutenant, Justin C. Ware. Company G—Captain, Frank Place; First Lieutenant, James A. Coffin; Second Lieutenant, Job D. Potter. Company D—Captain, Walter O. Dunbar; First Lieutenant, Seymour Z. Miner; Second Lieutenant, Luther L. Stillman. Company E—Captain, Benj. B. Andrews; First Lieutenant, Jason K. Backus; Second Lieutenant, Benj. F . Jones. Company F—Captain, J. Riley Stone; First Lieutenant, Wm. Alex. Stone; Second Lieutenant, Samuel Wickwire, Jr. Company G—Captain, Abraham Tuttle; First Lieutenant, Morris D. Bailey; Second Lieutenant, Harrison Frank. Company H—Captain, William P. Beck; First Lieutenant, Leonard W. Buck; Second Lieutenant, George A. Adams. Company J—Captain, William Bellinger; First Lieutenant, Thurlow W. Priest; Second Lieutenant, William H. Snyder. Company K—Captain, Nelson M. Daniels; First Lieutenant, Willie S. Barnum; Second Lieutenant, Samuel N. Kinney.

Gettysburg Battle Colonel Brown, of the One Hundred and Fifty-seventh New York, held an isolated position of particular peril. The regiment lost eighteen of twenty-six officers and three-fourth of its men. Lieut. Colonel Arrowsmith, a noble officer of this regiment, was killed. Captain Harrison Frank, wounded and prisoner; Adjutant Henry, wounded and prisoner; Capt. J. K. Backus, wounded; Capt. J. R. Stone, missing; Capt. G. A. Adams, wounded; Capt. L. F. Briggs, wounded and missing; Lt. Gates, wounded; Lt. J. A. Coffin, wounded and missing; Lt. Fitch, wounded; Lt. Atwater, wounded; Lt. Waters, wounded; Lt. Bowen, missing; Lt. Dorr, wounded and missing; Lt. Pearce, missing.

157TH REGIMENT, N. Y. S. V. List of Casualities [sic] in the 157th Reg't, N. Y. S. V., during the battles of Gettysburg Pa.: Lieut. Col. Arrowsmith, killed. Capt. Jason R. Backus, Co. E, killed, Capt Harrison Frank, Co. G, killed. Lieut. R. B. Loure, Co. I, killed. Capt. F. L. Briggs, Co. I. wounded. Capt. Frank Place, Co. C, missing. Capt. J. Riley Stone, Co. C, prisoner. Capt. G. A. Adams, Co. H, wounded. Lieut. Judson Powers, Co. A, prisoner. Lieut. Albert Coffin, Co. C, prisoner. Lieut. Byron Fitch, Co. C, wounded. Lieut. Atwater, Co. D, wounded. Lieut. H. O. Waters, Co. E, wounded. Lieut. J. W. Benjamin, Co. F, wounded Lieut. Smith, Co. wounded. Lieut. F. G. Gates, Co. G, wounded. Adj't. Joseph Henry, wounded. Lieut. Henry A. Curtice, prisoner. Serg't Major John Campbell, wounded.

The following is a private letter kindly communicated to us for publication: CAMP 157TH REG'T N. Y. V., BOONSBORO, MD. July 9, 1863. Dear Father: I wrote you a few lines on the battle-field at Gettysburg to let you know that I was safe; but it was the hardest contested battle in the present war. July 1st. We left Emmettsville at 7 o'clock to go to Gettysburg. On the road we heard some firing, and an order came to hurry us up, so we took a double-quick, and arrived there at 11 o'clock, all tired out, but marched through the city out on a large flat and formed in line of battle, and then lay down behind a battery. In about ten minutes there was a rebel battery opened on us. We lay right in range, so that their shot and shell struck in our line. Here we lost one man killed.—We lay there half an hour, when our battery silenced them, and then the commanding officer ordered us forward with the brigade. We advanced a half mile to the line of rebel skirmishers, and drove them back. Here about one hundred of the 5th Alabama Regiment came into our lines and gave themselves up; we then changed our position and moved a little to the right, and advanced into a large wheat field, where the grain stood up to our shoulders. We had advanced about 20 rods when the enemy raised up from the ground and poured into us an awful fire of shot and shell. Here, at this discharge, Lieut. Col. Arrowsmith fell. I was struck with a piece of shell in the side, which so stunned me that I could not get up for a short time; but our men kept firing and advancing, until we lost almost all of our officers, then were ordered to retreat. Among the officers lost at this time were Lieut. R. D. Lower, who was mortally wounded; Capt. Briggs, shot through the thigh—both of Company I. We got off with 80 men out of 350 that went into the fight. Among the killed were Captain Frank, Co. G, and Capt. Backus, Co. E.—With the remnant of our regiment we fell back to the heights back of the town, formed a line, and held it. The rebels took possession of the city and all our wounded prisoners. July 2d. The enemy opened on us along our whole line at daylight, with artillery, but did not do much damage, and soon got tired of that and quit firing. At this time we of the 157th were on the center; and about 8 o'clock P. M. the rebels commenced shelling us from all directions except the rear. It was awful to see, but did not do much damage to our lines; they kept it up for about three hours, when they advanced on our left. We drove them back with great slaughter. About dark they again charged on our left, and our brigade was ordered to its support. We went half a mile into a piece of woods, when the rebs opened on us, but we drove them back. When we came out of the woods, on the left, we had but 16 men left of the regiment. We went to take our place in the brigade, but the Colonel, P. P. Brown, went to the General and got us detached and turned over to the Provost Marshal for duty as provost guard, which we are doing now. Our men are all in except the killed, wounded, and prisoners. We have got about 100 guns, all told. July 3d. There was some fighting to-day all along the lines, but our regiment was stationed in the rear to stop stragglers. July 4th. We went to the front, but the enemy had gone. We staid there until 4 o'clock, and then started for Emmettsville, and marched six miles after dark. It was raining and muddy, and was awful traveling. July 5th. We arrived at Emmettsville and staid all night. July 7th. We started at 4 o'clock, and marched to Middletown, 30 miles. It seemed to me the longest day I ever saw; we had to cross a range of mountains. It commenced raining about six o'clock, and was so dark that we could hardly see anything. Some of the boys would fall down in the mud, but get up again laughing and trudge along. We got along to our old camp at Middletown about l0 o'clock. We were in the rear of the division, so we were last in; but we got all of our regiment in a wagoner's shop out of the rain. Only think of it, ten months since we were over 1000 strong, now all have plenty of room in a small sized wagoner's shop. We were tired enough, I assure you, to sleep anywhere. July 8th. Left Middletown for Boonsboro at 3 P. M. There was some fighting here; but as soon as our corps arrived the enemy left, and we are now waiting for orders. Our regiment has got but three commissioned officers left, with the exception of Col. Brown, viz.: Lieut. Jenkins, Co. B, Lieut. Brown, and Lieut. Tallman. MARLOW D. WELLS.

Source- Mina Brown family tree.

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NOTE: A newly discovered letter (13 Dec 2014) from his uncle has been located and a copy of it sent; it was initially thought that it was from his father, Asahel Claude Stone . (See update, 1 June 2015 below.)

TRANSCRIPTION:

Peterboro Nov. 16th 1862~ Dear Sister We received your letter a day or two since. It is rather rich to hear you complain of me for not writing when I believe you are in debt on the score of letters one or two. Well, never mind. I have written five letters this evening (it is now after nine) but I will write you a little one before going to bed. Our boy Asahel told us of his flying but pleasant visit with “Aunt Nabby” & the children. He was home two days in September to see the boys just before they paraded for the seat of war. We raised these numbers in this Senatorial District two full Regt. The last one (157th) quartered at Hamilton. Riley & Willie are both in it. They raised

[Page 2] company & Riley is Capt. & Willie 1st Lieut. Almost all the Peterboro young men are gone in this Company that had not gone before. Among the rest Tom Barnett – the only one left, since poor James’ death. He was killed at the great battle of Antietam at the head of his Company, leading them on. James was an excellent officer, being called the best Capt. in his Regt. He was struck by a minnie ball in the forehead just over the left eye, which lodged in the brain. Our Regt. left here on the 25th Sept. We provided them a dinner here, setting a table for them on the green 1200 feet long. On the 27th the body of James arrived & was buried the following day (Sunday) with military honors. We hear from our boys almost every day - some of them. They are

[Page 3] in Sigels Army Corps - and are in the first Brigade of Carl Schurz’ division now in hot pursuit of the rebels in Va. We expect every day to hear of them in battle when it is hardly to be expected that all should escape with life. Who is to fall, no one can tell. We hope for the best - the worst will doubt- less come to some of us. Rose is here with us. Josie & her baby are next door - so baby comes here every day to help “Grandma” about her work. I suppose you know Doe has gone to war! So you see I have some cares on my hands. Pamelia made an auction a day or two ago & sold off most of her stock as she has no one to see to it. Among other things I noticed Charley’s old kitten poking round the house. She “still lives” though deaf & nearly blind. You wrote about Minas having a boy? Well, if that don’t beat the dutch!!

[Page 4] Which is the biggest - cat or kitten! “Fred”, Mina or Henry! It haint volunteered yet has it? Please answer. But my paper grows short and I have not yet told you that I have just re- turned from a Western trip among the Indians. Having to stay over Sunday at Oshkosh in Wisconsin, I found out where Esther & Libby were & made them a visit. I found them in good health. Ester is sweet as when at our house 7 years ago. She counts 7 or 8 grandsons in the army. Libby’s husband is also in the army. They seem to be comfortably provided for at present. But I must close as it is late & I am tired. Write soon. I should be glad of a letter from Charley. I am glad he is getting along so well. Give my love to all the children & children’s children. Tell the little ones the “Bonnet Tree” didn’t bear this year, but I guess it will next. Aff. your brother A.C. Stone

We’ve been able to identify more people in the AC Stone letter to his sister (updated transcription attached). Here’s the breakdown what we’ve found:

Asahel – AC’s son Asahel Peter (never married, died in the poor house) Riley – our James Riley Willie – William Alexander (James Riley’s cousin) Tom Barnett – son of James Barnett, Sr. of Peterboro Amazing blog post about him here: http://senatorjamesbarnett.blogspot.com/ “poor James” – Captain James Barnett, Jr. died at Antietam and Tom is his brother. Amazing blog post about him here: http://jamesbarnett.blogspot.com/ Carl Schurz - Major General Carl Schurz immigrated from Germany to Wisconsin in about 1855 Rose – still TBD, possibly a niece? Josie – AC’s daughter Josephine Doe – TBD Pamelia – James Riley’s wife The rest unknown

-From descendant Julie Keaton.

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UPDATE- 1 June 2015:

James Riley Stone descendant Julie Keaton and I have been in recent contact. I want you to know that Asahel Claude Stone of Peterboro, Madison Co., NY, is not James Riley's father, but his uncle. Julie agrees with me on this.

J. R. Stone was the illegitimate son of Sophia Stone Hull; he was born prior to her marriage to William Hull. The Hulls did live in Smithfield in 1830 but ended up in the Town of Dayton, Cattaraugus Co., NY, where they appear in the census from 1850 through 1870.

The main proof for the above is J. R. Stone's probate record at Surrogate's Court, Wampsville, Madison Co., NY, File No. 2589, which states (in part) "That the said James R. Stone was an illegitimate child of Sophia Hull . . . "

Asahel C. Stone was very close to J. R. and probably served as a father figure to him. That's why he used the phrase "our boys" in the letter that you posted. Also, Asahel's own sons had enlisted in the military, so he had a great interest in their welfare, etc.

I've been unable to find any record of the deaths of either Sophia Stone Hull or her husband William.

Donna Dorrance Burdick Smithfield Town Historian (includes Peterboro, NY, burial place of Asahel C. Stone) ]

Find a Grave Contributor Kent Gebhard

Capt J. Riley Stone Added by: Kent Gebhard