Jesse Buskirk was born in the town of Clayton. As soon as he was old enough he began going to school and helping on the farm out of school hours. At the age of 22 he heeded the call of his country and enlisted in company K of the 14th New York Heavy Artillery. Captain Cooper was in command.
From Clayton Mr. Buskirk went to Rochester, where he was made corporal. That winter he spent in Staten Island. In the spring of '64 he arrived in Washington, and from there marched direct to the front. History will recall the famous Battle of the Wilderness, and here Mr. Buskirk met his first engagement. It was here that for miles and miles the tree, were blazing as a result of fire started from heavy firing. The next battle was Spottsylvania and here the captain suddenly disappeared from their midst. Captain Underhill took command. Battle at North Ann river, Cold Harbour and Saint Petersburg followed. In a great mine dug under the Rebel fort, the Yankees had carefully laid their plans to blow up the fort. The plan failed to work. The Union soldiers attempted to capture it in a hand to hand fight. Through misunderstanding the men who charged were not followed by the support of the rest of the company. As the Stars and Stripes were shot from the hands of the sargeant, young Buskirk jumped to save it from the Rebels. Perhaps only one ever knew what became of that flag. Mr. Buskirk has proudly remarked that no Rebel ever captured it. Matters were growing from bad to worse. With other prisoners he was taken to that terrible place from which few returned to tell the story. This Place was the famous Andersonville prison in Georgia. There were 30 acres of land enclosed by a stockade. Around this field holes were dug and logs set in on end. Smallpox broke out in the prison and tales of the great dead line became an untold horror of reality. As these men were turned in they were counted in squads of 30. There they met loathsome sights, covered with vermin and rags, beyond description. A veritable, living, seething hell. Surrounding the stockade, and for about a rod inside it was a slender railing. This was known as the dead line. All around the top of the stockade sentinels were placed. Any prisoner who went beyond this line was shot instantly. Mr Buskirk's tent mates were Harvey McKee, Joe Konklin, and Isaac Spears. Life had begun in terrible earnestness for these heroes of the north country. If they had money, they could obtain a few things, or now and then some things could be purchased from a Rebel guard-while their money lasted. The first night these four men camped out, robbery on them was attempted. The tent was located near the brook. In the night a pickpocket crept inside and attacked Isaac Spears. The latter was a stalwart fellow and used his strength to advantage by giving such a kick with his foot as to land the thief outside and with a loud splash, the fellow landed in the brook. Justice was on track of these thieves and several days after It was learned they had been tried and hung for a murder. The next day the men moved to the other side of the brook on higher ground. Rations were given to the men in very small quantities. Each day the ration was one pint of corn meal, and ground cobs, one half pint of beans, and one tablespoonful of molasses. Never a day went by but a comrade was carried out for burial, placed in the army wagon, just as they were picked up, one after another until the wagon was full, taken to the burial place and laid side by side in long shallow trenches. Men failed after a while to recognize their own kindred. One morning, Mr. Buskirk heard someone call his name. He tried to locate the voice but could see no one. Later he was to learn that an uncle and a cousin died in the place. little by little the boys formed a scheme to escape this terrible prison. Under one of these tents was a well and a brave heart conceived the idea of tunnelling from this hell to freedom. They used knives, anything with an edge, to move a spoonful of dirt at a time. Those who were able assisted. Going was slow, but there was nothing else to do, and undoubtedly it saved the life of more than one. They knew that detection meant death, but they took the chance, and as the work grew, hope came to them and it began to look as though they were going through. It was nearly finished when a sentry passing by stepped into a little hole outside. One of the men grabbed for him to silence his tongue forever, but too late. He made a get away. Then came orders from the commander of the prison: three days and nothing to eat. After the starvation rations they had lived on despair gave place to reason. Some lived to tell how that stockade became a living mass of suffering, scarcely room enough to move. How many of them fought in vain to ward off disease as it spread among them. In three months the Rebels became alarmed thinking help was coming and moved the prisoners to Havana. Before they went, the story is told of how an unknown Irish woman threw bread over the dead line, for the men to eat. They called her "the angel of light." It seemed ages afterward to Mr. Buskirk when he was moved to Camp Lawton, where he was one of those to be let out on parole of honor. The price of their first meal of wheat bread, a dozen eggs and a piece of bacon and a bit of salt was $500. Confederate money was worth two cents on the dollar. The boys could begin to earn a bit If their health allowed and they began to have more comforts of life. They were moved from camp to camp, however, for fear of aid coming to them. They met with all sorts of experiences. In one camp, a Rebel lieutenant had heart enough to bring in a hogshead full of peanuts, but he was arrested for his act of kindness. After a time the men were moved back to Charleston, then to Goldsboro, then on a transport to Maryland, where for the first time they had clean clothes and good quarters. Then came the furlough and the men were mustered out with their regiment. There are very few left in the town of Orleans and probably none who could tell such a tale as he. It is understood the following veterans still live: Edwin Ostrander, Jacob Snell and Fred Dickson of Lafargeville. Martin Fetterly has moved to Utica where he lives in the Masonic home. Rob Sheeley lives at Fishers Landing and George Schryver lives near Omar. Mr. Buskirk has several children: Ernest of Depauville; Ned and George of Lafargeville, Edwin of Evans Mills; Mrs. Dolly Walters of Lafargeville; and Mrs. Millie Bergan of Chaumont.Return to Jefferson County NYGenWeb page
Return to Jefferson County Civil War Index page
If you have any questions or comments about this page, please contact: Nancy Dixon
http://jefferson.nygenweb.net/cwbuskirk.htm updated March 7, 2009
Copyright 2009 Jefferson County NYGenWeb — a member of the NYGenWeb Project