O. Bingham, Boot and Shoe Merchant, enlisted April 2d, 1856. Served his full time, and was honorably discharged from further service in the militia. Upon the breaking out of the Rebellion he enlisted in Company D, 137th N. Y. Volunteers. August 16th, 1862, was mustered into the United States service at Camp Susquehanna, Binghamton. Soon after the Regiment was ordered to Washington, and from thence to Harper's Ferry, Va., in October, 1862. The Regiment was soon attached to the 12th Army Corps; after a few weeks in camp were ordered to join Gen. Burnside in front of Fredericksburgh, Va. On account of the almost impassibility of the roads, the Regiment did not arrive in time to participate in the fight. Were here ordered into camp at Fairfax, Va., from thence to Aquia Landing, on the Potomac.
The Regiment remained in this camp, perfecting themselves in all the arts of war, until Gen. Hooker had perfected the plan for the battle of Chancellorsville, to which place the Regiment was ordered in the latter part of April, 1863, under command of Gen. Slocum. In this engagement the 137th Regiment did some very hard fighting, and the hero of this sketch came near losing his life while performing acts of kindness to his comrades. He was returning from a spring near by with a number of canteens of water, when he was attacked by a number of rebels who gave him chase through the woods; but our soldier escaped unharmed, although at one time it seemed that nothing short of a miracle could save him. After the battle the Regiment recrossed the Rappahannock and were again in camp.
On the 13th of June Mr. Bingham was promoted to the office of Chief Musician of the Regiment by Col. Ireland for meritorious conduct, and no member of the Regiment or Brigade was more competent to fill this position. This office he held until mustered out of the service.
June 14th the Regiment started for Gettysburg; arrived on the 1st of July and immediately took position on the right of the line. In this battle the Regiment was engaged three days; Chief Musician Bingham had his cap shot off his head as he was carrying a wounded Sergeant from the line; he lost five men of his drum corps, three being wounded and two captured.
In September the 11th and 12th Corps were detached from the army of the Potomac and ordered to Tennessee. The men were transported in cattle cars, and reached the city of Nashville after about ten days travel; from thence were moved to Wauhatchie Valley. In this valley one Brigade, composed of the 137th and other Regiments, in all about one thousand men, were attacked by the rebel General Hood with four thousand picked men; the enemy finally withdrew to Lookout Mountain. In this fight our Chief Musician had his bugle, which was hanging by his side, pierced with a bullet and destroyed.
After several other engagements in this vicinity, the enemy were routed, and the men ordered to prepare for the taking of Atlanta, which city was captured by the Union forces Sept. 2d, 1864, Chief Musician Bingham marching in command of the drum corps of his Division playing the familiar tune Yankee Doodle, to the disgust of the inhabitants of that city.
From this time comparative quiet reigned until November 14th, when commenced the great "March for the Sea Coast," which was so successfully accomplished, as also the march from Savannah to Richmond, from which point the army were moved by easy marches to Washington, at which city they were mustered out of the service as fast as possible. Our Chief Musician was mustered out near Washington June 9th, 1865, and immediately sent with the Regiment to Elmira, where they were paid and honorably discharged June 20th.
He was in the service nearly three years; never lost a day's duty from his Regiment; he participated in every engagement of the Regiment from the time it entered the field, and fully proved himself to be a soldier of ability and courage, possessing all the qualities that are requisite to make a first-class American soldier.
Now that he has returned to his home and friends, we all unite in bestowing upon him the honor he so dearly bought, and respect and cherish him as one of the defenders of our common country.
H. W. Bishop, Druggist, elected May 31st, 1856. Doctor Bishop was an excellent member; served the Company as Treasurer for two years; filled most of the non-commissioned offices, and was esteemed highly by all the members, as he was by the community at large. He was Orderly Sergeant at the time he left the Company and joined the United States army. Very soon after his enlistment in the service of his country, he was promoted to hospital Steward, which position he filled until removed by death. Many there are, besides his near relatives and the Company of which he was a member, who mourn the loss of Doctor Bishop.