Freemasons of New York State in the Civil War

ROOT. CHARLES W.— Age, 23 years. Enlisted, August 12, 1862. at Brockport, to serve three years; mustered in as private. Co. A. September 13, 1862; promoted corporal, February 28. 1863; sergeant, February 12, 1864; captured in action, May 5, 1864. at the Wilderness/Va. ; released, April 22, 1865; promoted first sergeant, May 1, 1865 ; mustered out with company, June 3, 1865, near Alexandria, Va.

Captain Company K; Regiment, (Van Buren Light Infantry)

ROOT, WILLIAM W. Age, 25 years. Enrolled at Albany, to serve three years, and mustered in as assistant surgeon, August 20, 1862; as surgeon, December 2, 1864; mustered out with regiment, August 31, 1865, at Savannah, Ga. Commissioned assistant surgeon, August 27, 1862, with rank from August 13, 1862, original; surgeon, December 7, 1864, with rank from December 2, 1864,

vice W. D. Benedict mustered out.
Rose, Jeremiah A., x, Oriona, 229
Ross, John R., (Brevet Major), Delaware, 561

prob. b. May 1841, prob. In Damascus, Wayne Co., PA; d. 20 Jul 1874, son of Bezaleel C. Ross (b. 2 Mar 1805, Callicoon, NY).

Oct 1864: 84th Pennsylvania Volunteers (Second Brigade), numbering 17 commissioned officers and 215 men, Captain John R. Ross commanding, relieved Colonel Collis and his command in the fort on the Norfolk railroad in rear of the headquarters Second Army Corps.

The part taken by the regiment in the Chancellorsville campaign is clearly shown by the following extract from Major Opp's official report:

"After severe marches, occupying a period of five days from the 28th of April, we were brought in contact with the enemy on the afternoon of the 2d of May. In a reconnaissance made by two divisions of the Third Corps, to the left of Chancellorsville, and in the vicinity of an old furnace, the regiment was ordered to advance in line, with flanking companies thrown forward as skirmishers, to unmask the position of the enemy. Under the immediate supervision of Colonel Bowman, commanding the brigade, the object was successfully and handsomely attained, with the loss of only two men wounded. On the morning of the 3d, at daylight, we were judiciously and strongly posted to the left of the plank road, and to the left of Chancellorsville, as a reserve force. The attack of the enemy had continued but a short time, when one line to the front of us gave way. Colonel Bowman's orders to the Eighty-fourth and the One Hundred and Tenth, to advance and occupy the position just abandoned, were promptly and gallantly executed. The old lines were re-gained, and held for about an hour and until all the regiments on the right and left of the Eighty fourth had retired, leaving us in an isolated and exposed position.

In the hope that reinforcements would arrive, I still held the men in place, maintaining a steady and effective fire to the front. It was discovered, however, that a large force of the enemy had succeeded, by making an extensive detour under cover of a dense wood, in gaining our rear, where he was supported by a vigorous enfilading fire from several guns, planted on an eminence to our front and left. It became obvious that to remain was equivalent to capture in a body, while to retreat was perilous in the extreme. The latter alternative was adopted. The retreat was executed in good order, but not without heavy losses and severe fighting. In numerous instances the men clubbed their muskets in hand-to-hand encounters. Parties who had been overpowered, seizing opportune moments, took up guns at hand, demanded and obtained the surrender of many of their captors. Lieutenant Farley of company F, who had been captured in the strife, headed a number of our men, and succeeded in extricating himself, and in capturing one, Captain, two Lieutenants, and twenty-five men. These, with five men captured before the retreat began, made an aggregate of thirty-three rebel prisoners taken by the regiment. Our own losses were necessarily heavy, from the peculiarity of the situation. Of three hundred and ninety-one officers and men engaged, two hundred and nineteen were killed, wounded and missing. Captain Jacob Peterman was among the killed, and Captain C. G. Jackson, Lieutenants William Hays, Albert Steinman, John R. Ross, George S. Good, and Assistant Surgeon John S. Waggoner severely wounded, most of whom fell into the enemy's hands."

Rosse, Samuel L., (killed at South Mountain 1882), York, 197

Roundy, J. О., x, Copestone, 641
Rowland, Bradford, 154th NY Inf. Vols, Ellicottville, 307

War was often hell, but it had it lighter moments, as related in some of the following excerpts pertaining Private Rowland & friends:

Rowley, M. E., (Commissary Sergt.), Canastota, 231

Royal, John, x, Lily, 342

Royall, T. E., 3d Vols, Candor, 411