VETERAN
Another Union Civil War soldier’s name inscribed on a grave marker in the Rossville Cemetery, is Hezekiah Harris. Pvt. Hezekiah served with the NYS 124th Volunteers, the Orange Blossoms, and perished at Gettysburg, falling in battle at Devil’s Den on July 2nd, 1863. He was buried there with his comrades, but the family proudly engraved his name on the family grave marker, beneath his wife’s.
Hezekiah Harris was born on April 19th, 1813, and raised in Plattekill, and is a Third Great Grand Uncle to me. His occupation was farming, as was that of most of the men in that era. He married Catherine Adelia Griffith (b. 1825; d.01-09-1900) on July 15th, 1835. They were raising their family when the hostilities between the North and South broke out and Hezekiah answered the call in 1862.
Hezekiah enlisted on August 20th, 1862, at the age of 44. He mustered in on September 5th, 1862, as a Private in Company E, of the 124th Volunteers.
In Charles H. Weygant’s History of the 124th New York Volunteers, he vividly describes the horrific events of July 2nd, 1863. This is where their Major James Cromwell voiced the heroic words, “the men must see us today!” leading them as they surged forward against the 1st Texas Confederate Regiment. As Mr. Weygant notes, on that day, the 124th Orange Blossoms lost 10 of their 18 Officers, and 85 of the 220 enlisted men were either killed or wounded. Both Colonel Augustus van Horne Ellis and Major James Cromwell fell in the battle while leading their men into the maelstrom. Don Troiani, the artist, has dramatically captured this moment in history in a Limited Edition Print titled “The Men Must See Us Today”. If you’ve never seen, it’s definitely worth a look.
One of the Battle Flags of the 124th New York Volunteers was returned and eventually placed on sale at Remillard’s, on Water Street, in Newburgh. I don’t know the final resting place of this torn and tattered emblem of their bravery, but from this vintage photo, I developed a solemn respect for those valiant men. It is believed that the author Stephen Crane met with many of the Veterans of the Orange Blossoms, and from their discussions, developed the story line for his novel, “The Red Badge of Courage”.
Not only is Hezekiah Harris’ name memorialized at Rossville, but also at Gettysburg and at our County Seat in Goshen. If you never seen the memorial to the Orange Blossoms in Goshen, drift on over and see a magnificent tribute to those valiant soldiers.
Goshen, NY
Sincere thanks and gratitude goes out a great cousin, Bev, who provided the family portrait of Hezekiah and Catherine Adelia Griffith Harris, with their child, and of the family gathering around the grave marker when it was placed in the cemetery circa 1900.
Thank you for your service Uncle Hezekiah! Though your mortal remains don’t rest in Rossville, your memory always will be with us.
Rossville Church & Cemetery Association 