ELBERT
HUTCHINSON
127th New York Volunteers
Private, Company H
(The Monitors)
Elbert Hutchinson
127th New York Volunteers
Private, Company H
Elbert Hutchinson was born on February
19, 1842. He lived in Middle Island and was one of five
children born to Benjamin and Minerva Hutchinson. His
father, Benjamin Hutchinson, served as the Brookhaven
Town Clerk from 1860-1877. The Hutchinson home was
located on the north side of Middle Country Road, across
from what is now the Longwood Public Library.
The Hutchinson house,
which stood on the Middle Country Road across from the
Longwood Public Library. The home also served as a
stagecoach stop and post office. Photo from the
collection of Donald Bayles.
Hutchinson began his career as a farmer.
On August 22, 1862, however, he joined the ranks of
thousands of other young men who enlisted in the Union
Army. He went to Orient, in the Town of Southold, to
enroll in the 127th New York Volunteers. This regiment,
commanded by Colonel William Gurney, was originally
called the "True Blues;" later, they were known
as "the Monitors." He was assigned to company H
and mustered into service at Staten Island on September
3rd.
Early on, Hutchinson was disappointed to
realize that there was no equipment or supplies. He was
eager to begin training and see some action. It wasn't
long, though, before things began to happen and
provisions began to arrive. Hutchinson ultimately
received a great deal of training in is quest to be a
soldier, and perhaps saw more action than he had wished
for.
The unit moved to Baltimore in order to
defend Washington, D.C. The regiment spent the winter of
1862 camped at Arlington Heights. In the spring of 1863,
company H and the 127th began marching south. Along the
way, they began to hear tales of the horrors of war from
the members of the Seventh regiment, who were moving
north. The 127th marched to Boonsboro, Hagerstown, and
Greenfield; they became part of the Peninsula Campaign.
The regiment was finally transported by steamboat to
Charleston, where Hutchinson observed Fort Sumter as it
was bombarded and then reoccupied by Union forces.
Hutchinson, like many other soldiers, was
often ill due the change of diet, water, and climate. The
regiment endured long, hard marches for two and one-half
years. These hardships and daily health problems often
came back to haunt the men in later life.
The 127th, now based at Folly and Coles
Islands, was assigned picket line duty. The Coles Islands
pickets declared their own unofficial truce. Opposing
forces visited with one another and shared coffee and
other provisions. For the most part, the troops were
content with this less restrictive atmosphere of picket
line duty. Early in September of 1863, however, things
began to heat up. Union forces assaulted Fort Wagner,
resulting in heavy casualties. The 127th spent the winter
of 1863 on Coles Island on skirmish and picket duty. On
April 23, 1864, the regiment was ordered to move to
Morris Island. Company H was detailed for Provost Duty at
the new camp. Pvt. Hutchinson often escorted prisoners to
Hilton Head, South Carolina.
Interior of bombed out Fort Sumter. Once Sumter fell
Charleston was forced to surrender.
Shelling of the islands and forts around
Charleston went on throughout the spring. General Sherman
continued his rampage south. He gave orders to seize and
cut off the Savannah and Charleston railroad. The 127th
was held in reserve at Honey Hill where tactical errors
led to defeat. However, on the Grahansville Road they
unexpectedly ran into the main body of the Confederate
forces. The regiment pressed forward and, with the
support of the 32nd United States Colored Troops, they
managed to drive back the enemy and save the artillery.
Company H was indeed bloodied at Honey Hill and Devaux's
Neck. Picket duty no longer meant sharing coffee with the
enemy; it was now quite dangerous. The new units on the
line did not honor the unauthorized truces.
The weather was hot and damp. Numbers of
sick and wounded began to rise. Many men were sent to
Hilton Head Island for rest and recuperation. The tide
began to turn, though, against the Confederate forces.
Savannah and the rail center fell into Union hands.
General Sherman's "March to the Sea" proved
devastating to the South. The war was winding down as the
New Year began.
Hutchinson was discharged at Charleston
on June 30, 1865 and returned home to Middle Island. On
December 1, 1872, he married Emma Gamage. They did not
have any children. Like many other soldiers, Elbert
Hutchinson suffered from heart trouble and rheumatism.
The war had taken its toll, and he could no longer work
for sustained periods of time. He was injured while
cutting timber in 1887, further hindering his quality of
life.
Elbert Hutchinson died in Sayville on
August 2, 1917.