Captain Merwin Eugene Cornell

Male 1842 - 1862  (20 years)


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  • Name Merwin Eugene Cornell 
    Title Captain 
    Nickname Mervin 
    Birth 11 Apr 1842  New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Military Service 15 Oct 1861  Lima, Livingston Co., New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    American Civil War (North)
    102nd New York Regt., D Co.
    Killed - Battle of Antietam 1862 
    Death 17 Sep 1862  Sharpsburg, Washington Co., Maryland, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Burial Evergreen Cemetery, Bristol, Ontario Co., New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Notes 
    • Won Best Speaker--Club 873-F on 6/28/05.
      By Bill Baxter

      "Isaiah Cornell was born in 1801. He had a son named Captain M. Eugene Cornell, who was an unsung war hero of the American Civil War.

      Fellow Toastmasters and honored guests....

      Eugene Cornell was born on April 11, 1842 . He was not a famous person himself, but he had an uncle who was very famous. His name was Ezra, the brother of Isaiah. Ezra Cornell founded a major university in Ithaca, NY; on a hill overlooking Lake Cayucas. You have probably heard Cornell University's Alma Mater Song, "High Above Cayucas Waters."

      After, Eugene Cornell grew up, he became an Officer in the Union Army. In 1862, after the outbreak of the American Civil War, Capt. Eugene Cornell served under General McClellan, who at that time, headed up the Union Forces in The Eastern Campaign, but was always at odds with Honest Abe Lincoln. It was during this time in 1862, that The Union Army was in desperate need of a victory in the East, as the Confederate Army under General Lee had a pretty good stronghold on the Eastern Campaign. As desperate as the Union was for a victory, the South was just as desperate to maintain their stronghold in the East, because in the Western Campaign, The Union Army under General Ulysses S. Grant was dominating the Confederate Army. And so, the two sides met head on at a place in Maryland called Antietam Creek, on Sept. 17, 1862.

      The North and the South fought each other at very close range. The Battle of Antietam lasted one day, and I have to say, it was a massacre. The Battle of Antietam was the bloodiest battle of the entire Civil War, and the bloodiest one-day battle in the History of America. A total of 3,650 dead soldiers, Blue and Gray, littered the countryside surrounding Antietam Creek. At least 17,300 people were wounded at the Battle of Antietam. Although the losses were heavy on both sides, General McClellan and his Union Army had obtained their much needed victory at Antietam Creek. This prompted Abraham Lincoln to write his Emancipation Proclamation, which would free all of the slaves in America.

      One of the soldiers who died at the Battle of Antietam was Captain Eugene Cornell. There were no confetti brass bands, no medals, just a man who willingly gave his life for his country, and for Abe Lincoln's Cause, which was to reunite a country which was torn apart by slavery and secession. That is my definition of an unsung hero. An unsung war hero is one who willingly lays down his life for his country, without expecting anything in return, whether he lives to tell about it or not. Capt. Cornell did not live to tell about it; but, he was indeed an unsung war hero.

      Capt. Cornell had a nephew whose name was George Cornell. George was born in 1854, and was 8 years old, when his uncle died at The Battle of Antietam. When George grew up, he had a daughter named Myrtle Cornell who was born in 1892. Myrtle married a Navy Man by the name of Chief Warrant Officer, Leroy Edwin Baxter--Grampa Baxter to me. Myrtle Cornell, who became Myrtle Cornell Baxter, was my Grandma. Capt. Eugene Cornell was Grandma's Great Uncle and my Great Greet Great Uncle. Capt. Cornell and I are both part of "Uncle Ezra's Family Tree" which grows on top of a hill, "High Above Cayucas Waters." And so, I created this Civil War Website, and named it the Capt. M. Eugene Cornell Memorial Civil War Showcase. During this upcoming Fourth of July Holiday, Let us remember those "Unsung War Heroes" who gave their lives for the freedom which we share here in America."

    • HDQRS. ONE HUNDRED AND SECOND NEW YORK STATE VOLS.,
      Camp in Field near Antietam Creek, September 18, 1862.

      Colonel STAINROOK,
      Commanding Second Brigade.

      COLONEL: I have the honor to report that in the action of yesterday the One hundred and second New York State Volunteers entered the field for duty, according to orders, at 6.30 a. m., in common with the rest of the brigade; that we marched to the woods held by the rebels in close column by division, and that line of battle was formed by deployment of column. While the line was forming, under fire of sharpshooters of the enemy, Captain M. Eugene Cornell, of Company D of this regiment, fell, dead, at the front of his command while bringing them into line, being shot through the head. After line was formed we advanced in order, driving the rebel before us, this regiment going, however, to the left of the brigade, and, after passing through the woods, taking the left of the burning building in the field beyond. From this building our men pursued the enemy to the corn-field in advance, where the One hundred and second halted and commenced firing at a battery which was playing on the right of the brigade, just beyond the corn-field. This battery retired immediately after our opening fire upon it.

      At this time I marched the regiment by the right flank to rejoin the brigade, which was in position behind the battery of Parrott guns, to the right of the corn-field. Soon after the brigade moved forward past the battery, and drove the enemy through the woods beyond. The One hundred and second, however, remained supporting the battery, by order of General Sumner's aide. This battery retired after expending its ammunition, and was replaced by a battery of brass guns, which remained in position about twenty minutes, and returned, being threatened by a brigade of the enemy, the right of this brigade being out of ammunition and unsupported, retiring at the same time. The One hundred and second also retired, joining in with the rest of the brigade, and were reformed into line by the general commanding division (General Greene), at the rear of the woods behind the burning building. The brigade was here rested, and, after some two hours, was again marched one-half mile to the rear, and, after forming line, arms were stacked and ration given out.

      Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

      JAS. C. LANE,
      Lieut. Col., Comdg. One hundred and second New York Vols.
    Person ID I28417  OurNorthernRoots
    Last Modified 9 Jul 2023 

    Father Isaiah Stephen Cornell,   b. 7 May 1802, Dighton, Bristol Co., Massachusetts, USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 18 Aug 1853, Bristol, Ontario Co., New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 51 years) 
    Mother Elizabeth Gregg,   b. 1811, Ontario Co., New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 14 May 1843, Bristol, Ontario Co., New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 32 years) 
    Marriage 22 Nov 1827  Bristol, Ontario Co., New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F8741  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBirth - 11 Apr 1842 - New York, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMilitary Service - American Civil War (North) 102nd New York Regt., D Co. Killed - Battle of Antietam 1862 - 15 Oct 1861 - Lima, Livingston Co., New York, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDeath - 17 Sep 1862 - Sharpsburg, Washington Co., Maryland, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBurial - - Evergreen Cemetery, Bristol, Ontario Co., New York, USA Link to Google Earth
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