“Dreams in the Straw”

While the Trains Thunder By

Robert B. Van Valkenburg: making the Cayugans welcome

Elements of the 19th NY Volunteer Infantry start to move South. They detrain in Elmira, NY, a large recruiting depot.

Cayuga’s first three hundred reached Elmira, by cars from Auburn, late at night, Monday, April 29th. Baker commanded, as senior Captain, his company, with those of Kennedy, Gavigan and Schenck constituting the detachment. Tumbling from the train as it came to a halt in the Erie depot, the men formed in column under the escort of the Auburn Brass Band. There was little of an impressive character in its appearance as this detachment, tired, sleepy and straggling, stumbled through gloomy and deserted streets in the direction of the quarters assigned it by Gen. VanValkenburg, commanding the post. Clad in citizen’s dress, no two alike, with hats slouched over their heavy eyes, pants tucked in their boots, and equipped with nothing more warlike than bundles tied up in bandanna handkerchiefs, carpet bags and clay pipes, they bore no promise then of that splendid reputation for discipline and efficiency, that made their regiment famous from Virginia to Florida later in the war. The officers only wore uniforms and arms.

Under the guidance of a staff officer, the detachment marched to the junction of Fifth Street and Railroad Avenue, two blocks west of the depot. Here loomed dimly up to view in the enfolding darkness, that renowned and ancient pile entitled the Old Barrel Factory of Elmira, known in military circles as Barracks No. One. Two stories and a half high, large, long and roomy, it stood in a large enclosure, on the east side of, and facing the street, and at right angles to the Erie railroad track, which ran along by the north side of the yard. Here the newcomers found the Oswego and Seneca Falls men, who had sat
up to welcome them, and now turned out in great excitement and joy to give them a hospitable reception.

A soldier’s ration of cold meat, mush, bread and coffee was speedily issued and eagerly eaten, for the men were famished. Double blankets were then given out. Straw shaken down on the floors made bedding, and Capt. Baker was directed to make his men comfortable for the night. It was rough accommodation for those who had left luxurious feather beds and snowy sheets the day before, but the straw was dry and abundant and the volunteers were tired, and they betook themselves to it with great satisfaction. Gen. Van Valkenburg and Chas. B. Walker, his Adjutant General, saw all arrangements made in person. They did not leave till 2 a. m., when the last Cayugan had
pulled his dark brown blanket around him and nestled down to dreams in the straw, with the proud reflection of having beaten the whole of Western New York at the rendezvous, excepting only his comrades from Oswego and Seneca Falls. During the night, train after train thundered by on the railroad, with clang of bell and roar of wheels, shaking the building till it rattled but that was a music all soon became accustomed to, and it ceased to disturb them.

From Cayuga in the Field by Henry Hall and James Hall

After commanding the recruiting depot in Elmira Robert B. Van Valkenburg commanded the 117th NY Volunteers at the Battle of Antietam. While serving as Minister Resident to Japan from 1866-1869 he temporarily prevented the delivery of ex-CSS Stonewall to Japan on account of American neutrality.

CSS Stonewall c. 1865