FROM THE BRYANT ROOM ARCHIVES
By Myrna Sloam, ©July/Aug 2003

Benjamin A. Willis: From Roslyn to Gettysburg

July 2003 is the 140th anniversary of the Civil War battle of Gettysburg. One of the local men who fought and survived this battle was Benjamin A. Willis. Born in Roslyn in 1840, Willis graduated Union College in Schenectady in 1861. He then studied law and was admitted to the bar. In 1862 Willis volunteered for military service and raised a company of more than 100 men from Long Island. This became known as Company H of the 119th Regiment New York Volunteers. The Regiment fought at Fredericksburg, Chancelorsville, Gettysburg, as well as Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge. In 1864 the company, now 57 men, was mustered out. Among those to return to NY was Major Willis, who took up the practice of law in NYC and was later elected to two terms in Congress from the 11th District.

In August 1863, after the battle of Gettysburg and after the Draft Riots in NYC, Willis wrote a lengthy letter home from his post in Virginia, which was published in the Hempstead Inquirer. The following is an excerpt from this letter:

My Dear Friend:

Tiresome marches, the countless fatigues of an almost unparalleled campaign, the excitement; that attends the imminency of conflict, the heart rending scenes of carnage, shattered and mutilated victims of unholy war, the sighs and groans of departing spirits as they take their flight from unhallowed earth, the artillery's fierce crash and musketry's inharmonious rattle, the cheers of heroes as by impetuous passion they are borne irresistibly onward to the foe, pressed as it were into the very gulf of death; --all these experiences, scenes and noises are buried in the sepulchre of the past, and instead, we are here in this beautiful, ancient village of Brentsville, the capital of Prince William County, enjoying a repose disturbed only by the unvarying routine of picket and fatigue, tattoo and reveille, drill and inspection…. Our army a few days since barefooted covered with dirt and rags, officers as well as privates, has been newly clad and thoroughly cleaned….

Rejoice, my country, that in thy armies thou canst see safety and victory.-Rejoice that in the heroes of Gettysburg, Vicksburg and Port Hudson, together with those under the sturdy
[General]Rosecrans there still burn the unconquerable spirit never to submit; the same steady purpose never to leave the field through disaster and defeats, misgeneralship and quarrels in the public counsels, thwart, satanic spirit of copperheadism postpone for a time their triumph, until they have accomplished their mission and saved from destruction the ancient temple of liberties.

…the planet star of victory is shining brighter. The whole heavens are becoming illumined. The star of the republic is about to re-arise and drive away with its effulgence, the gathered clouds that have darkened our fair land, but have never disheartened the true patriot, who inspired by confidence believing in the words of our own Bryant that- "Truth crushed to earth shall rise again"- have through all this darkness beheld a glorious future, more glorious even than the past….

Major B.A. Willis
August 11, 1863

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