cr ft m sonry - Onondaga and Oswego Masonic District Historical ...

Salina Street, south of the "Yellow Brook," there were no buildings, and on the east side was the last of the only four plots south of
Fayette Street. Where the "Yellow Brook" crossed Salina Street was a deep ravine, and in 1824 Salina Street was still about six feet
higher than now, and very uneven and hilly.
The area which today Onondaga Street cuts through was at that time a swampy cedar forest. The area between Salina,
Washington, Warren, and Fayette Streets was in 1824 still completely empty, excepting some trees. In 1825 the Presbyterians
erected a church where stood McCarthy’s building. Where the Onondaga County Savings Bank building stands now was at that time
the location of the later "Syracuse House," and in the place of the Wieting Block there was a two-story building. Between Salina,
East Fayette, Warren, and Jefferson Streets stood a few shacks. The main part of the village lay between Washington, Montgomery,
Fayette, and Warren Streets. North of the canal up to the village of Salina was uninhabited and usually wooded.
Nicholas moved back to Syracuse with his parents on 15 May 1838. His education was obtained in the public schools and as a boy
he engaged in various pursuits. Sperry and Hier employed him as a cigar maker from 1854 until 1856. At that time he formed a
partnership with Gustavus Sniper (Grumbach and Sniper), engaging in the manufacture of cigars. Grumbach also became a
member of the old Syracuse Grays in 1856 and was later Captain of Company F, Monroe Cadets, New York State Militia. He was
serving in his second term as supervisor of the Second Ward when he was mustered into the United States Service on 18 Sep 1862
at Syracuse, N.Y., September 18, 1862, at the age of 27 under a commission as Captain of Company B dated 4 Oct 1862, rank 2
Sep 1862. The 150 men of his company were personally recruited by their commanding Officer. He was mustered as Major of the
regiment 23 Aug 1964, under a commission dated 2 Aug 1864, rank 3 Jul 1864, and mustered as Lieutenant Colonel of the regiment
at Bladensburg, Maryland, about 11 May 1865, under a commission dated and rank that day. He also received a commission as
Colonel dated 7 Jun 1865 with rank the same day, but was not mustered.
He was married on 14 September 1862 to Miss Emilie Steiger of Syracuse and had four children. (Geschichte der Deutschen in
Syracuse und Onondaga County Nebst Kurzen Biographien von Beamten und Hervorragenden Buergern – 1897; History of the
German People in Syracuse and Onondaga County with short biographies of officials and prominent citizens. Author: Syracuse
Union, published at Syracuse, NY, 1897; 304 pages, paperback, illustrations).
At that time Colonel Nicholas Grumbach was Supervisor of the Second Ward, member of the city’s war committee, and captain of
the Monroe Cadets. The war situation was discussed among all classes of the population at that time, especially the so-called
"drafts" which here and there (but not in Syracuse) were necessary to fulfill the required numbers of troops. So too among the
Germans this question prompted lively discussion, and everywhere loud voices proclaimed themselves ready to enter into the
service if they only had a leader. On the evening of 27 August 1862 a large number of such men were gathered at the Centre House
and Philip Eckel, the fire chief, made the motion that a German company be formed and that Nicholas Grumbach be captain of it.
This suggestion was taken up with jubilation and next Philip Eckel and Jakob Knapp (of Syracuse Lodge No. 501, see biography
below) were chosen as first and second lieutenants. Hereupon they all proceeded to Jakob Kohl’s shop and when Grumbach came
in soon after, he was hailed on all sides as "Captain." When someone told him what was going on, he explained that he could not go
in on that, because he had promised his business partner (General Sniper) to take care of the business while Sniper was in the field.
Besides, he was afraid that those in the throes of their first enthusiasm who had declared themselves ready for soldiering would
regret their decisions by the next morning, however provisionally he consented to wanting to be their captain. When he left that
evening Mr. Grumbach expected that nothing would come of it by the next morning. He was surprised, therefore, to find a large tent
ready in the open lot at Salina Street and Prospect Avenue and a crowd of volunteers ready to make good on their promises. The
matter became serious and the recruitment began. The senate war committee gave its consent and by midday on 28 Aug 1862 40
men were already enlisted. At the empty corner of Ash, Salina and Prospect Avenue a grandstand was set up where, in the evening,
speeches were to be given. The evening came; Samsel’s Band played patriotic tunes and Georg Saul delivered an inspirational
address. Then volunteers were asked to step forward and report. If a pause occurred, the chairman continued, one of the many
German women offered the next volunteer so many pairs of socks, or another ten dollars, and so on. Over four days 115 men were
registered, mostly from the second and fourth wards. But all of them did not end up going, as some of them had parents who
protested; others were married and their wives vetoed the deal. As noted above, Captain Grumbach was married on 14 Sep 1862
and went to Watertown on his honeymoon but returned immediately upon hearing that three of his recruits would evaporate. On 18
Sep 1862 this German Company B, with about 100 men including the officers, was mustered into Union service and posted at Camp
White until 23 September when the regiment went to Washington.
During the war they took part in the following battles: Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Wauhatchie, Lookout Mountain, Ringgold,
Resaca, New Hope Church, Lost Mountain, Pine Knob, Kennesaw Mountain, Peach Tree Creek and the siege of Savannah; and
they were present at the battles of Missionary Ridge, Rocky Face Ridge, Averasboro, Bentonville and The Carolinas. In total they
lost 133 dead and 353 wounded.
Col. Grumbach, while captain, was for a long time acting field officer of the regiment, and as such was on several occasions in
temporary command of the regiment; notably at the battle of Gettysburg after Col. Randall was wounded. Col. Barnum (Henry A.
Barnum of Central City Lodge No. 305) being called to the command of the brigade by the death of Col. Ireland on 10 Sep 1864, at
Atlanta, GA, Col. Grumbach as Major assumed command of the regiment on that day, and so continued until after the arrival of the
regiment at Savannah, GA. Before the regiment left Savanna, he received a leave of absence and went home. He rejoined the
regiment at Goldsboro, NC about 1 Apr 1864 and from thence continued command of until the regiment was disbanded at Syracuse.
http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache:RoTpivzDv7cJ:www.navarrocollege.edu/library/civilwar/abstracts/e_h.htm+%22gustavu
s+sniper%22&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=20&gl=us
Grumbach (Nicholas) Papers, 1864
This Union army officer describes how his men are the first to enter Savannah, posting flags throughout the city so that the
remainder of the Union forces could see them as they entered the city. Grumbach, a colonel of the 149th New York Volunteer
Infantry, writes a four page letter, quarto, dated December 25th, 1864 from "Corner west road and Zulbey, Savannah, Ga." He
writes the letter to Colonel Gustavus Sniper of the 185th New York Infantry.
The regiment was mustered out on 12 Jun 1865, and the welcome accorded it on its return to Syracuse was overwhelming. The
entire populace turned out “en masse” to demonstrate and voice their joy in the return of their loved ones. Amidst round after round
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