Founder Brian Keogh
Major. Brian Keogh
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DR. MORRIS W. TOWNSEND 2001
at Little Round top
DR. MORRIS W. TOWNSEND was
born in Monroe county, N. Y., August 27, 1827, a son of Edmund and Caroline (Scofield)
Townsend. He received his education in the common schools, and at the age of
seventeen years began teaching, which occupation he followed for several years.
During this time he began the study of medicine, and in 1853 he was graduated
from Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia, Pa. In 1858 he settled in the
village of Bergen.
Dr. Townsend is one of the best known physicians in Genesee county, having been
in practice in Bergen for forty years. He always has been an active, energetic
man, a close student keeping in touch with the progress in his profession; his
standing as a physician is high, and his knowledge and judgment are much
depended upon. In December, 1861, he answered the governor's call for field
physicians, enlisting in the 47th N. Y.Vols., was afterward transferred to the
44th; he was detailed as operating surgeon in the field, the arduous
duties of which post he faithfully sustained for nearly three years, and was
mustered out in October, 1864.
Dr. Townsend has not only
been active in the line of his profession, but has taken a keen and active
interest in the political affairs of his town and county. He is a member of the
New York Medical Association and the American Medical Association.
History of the 44th Regt. N.Y.V.
The following is taken from
The Union army: a history of military affairs in the loyal states, 1861-65 --
records of the regiments in the Union army -- cyclopedia of battles -- memoirs
of commanders and soldiers. Madison, WI: Federal Pub. Co., 1908. volume II.
Forty-fourth Infantry.—Cols., Stephen W. Stryker, James C. Rice, Freeman
Conner; Lieut.-Cols., James C. Rice, Edward P. Chapin, Freeman Conner, Edward B.
Knox; Majs., Stephen W. Stryker, James McKown, Edward P. Chapin, Freeman Conner,
Edward B. Knox, Campbell Allen. The 44th regiment, known as Ellsworth's
Avengers, was organized at Albany under the auspices of the Ellsworth
association of the State of New York, which planned to raise a memorial regiment
to be composed of one man from each town and ward, unmarried, not over 30 years
of age or under 5 feet, 8 inches in height, and of military experience. This
plan was adhered to as far as possible and two companies from Albany county, two
from Erie county, one from Herkimer county, and a large number of scattered
squads reported at Albany in response to the request. These companies were
mustered into the service of the United States at Albany in Aug. and Sept.,
1861, for three years, and two new companies from Albany were mustered in Oct.
21, 1862. The regiment, numbering 1,061 men, left Albany on Oct. 21, 1861, for
Washington and upon its arrival there was assigned to the 3d brigade, 1st
division, later with the 5th corps. Camp was established on Oct. 28, at Hall's
hill, Va., and the winter was passed there with routine duties. On March 10,
1862, the regiment led the advance to Centerville, but soon returned to Fairfax
and proceeded thence to Yorktown, arriving on April 1. From May 5 to 19, the
44th garrisoned Fort Magruder; then moved to Games' mill; was engaged at Hanover
Court House, with the loss of 86 killed, wounded and missing; participated in
the Seven Days' battles with a total loss of 56 at Gaines' mill and 99 at
Malvern Hill, out of 225 engaged in the last named battle. Returning to
Alexandria, the regiment moved by way of Fortress Monroe to Manassas, and in the
battle of Aug. 30 lost 71 killed, wounded or missing. It was in reserve at
Antietam; was active at Shepherdstown, and Fredericksburg; shared in the
hardships of Burnside's "Mud March," and returned to winter quarters at
Stoneman's switch, near Falmouth. Camp was broken on April 27, 1863, for the
Chancellorsville campaign, the 44th being in the lead during the general
movement of the army and sharing in the fighting, after which it returned for a
short rest to the camp at Stoneman's switch. In June, the veterans of the 14th
and 25th N. Y. were added to the 44th. At Gettysburg the regiment was posted on
the left of the line and joined in the defense of Little Round Top, where it met
with its greatest loss—111 killed, wounded and missing. After spending some
weeks in camp at Emmitsburg, the command was present at the battle of Bristoe
Station, active at Rappahannock Station and in the Mine Run campaign, and went
into winter quarters at Brandy Station. In Dec., 1863, a large number of the men
reenlisted and rejoined the regiment in camp after their veteran furlough. May,
1864, was the month of the memorable Wilderness campaign, in which the regiment
served faithfully, suffering most severely at the Wilderness and at Bethesda
Church. By this time the regiment had become greatly reduced in numbers by hard
service and the loss in this campaign, while not so large in numbers as in
previous battles, was even greater in proportion to the number of men engaged.
The regiment was active in the first assault on Petersburg in June, 1864, at the
Weldon railroad, and at Poplar Spring Church. On Oct. 11 , 1864, the 44th was
mustered out at Albany and the veterans and recruits were consolidated into a
battalion, of which 266 men were transferred to the 140th and 183 to the 146th
N. Y. The total strength of the regiment was 1,585, of whom 188 died during the
term of service from wounds received in action, and 147 died from accident,
imprisonment or disease. The total loss in killed, wounded and missing was 730.
The men chosen for this command were of the flower of the state and displayed
their heroism on many a desperately contested field, where they won laurels for
themselves. and for their state. Col. Fox numbers the 44th among the "three
hundred fighting regiments."
44th Regt. NYV
