Catherine Lorish

Family/Spouse: John Kuder. John (son of George Kuder and Susanna Waltman) was born on 4 Jan 1802 in Northampton County, Pennsylvania; died on 18 Oct 1883 in Groveland, Livingston County, New York; was buried in Arnold Cemetery, Conesus, Livingston County, New York. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Military Service: 25 Aug 1862, Rochester, Monroe County, New York; American Civil War (US) 8th New York Cavalry Medal of Honor - During the battle of Waynesboro, Virginia, on March 2, 1865, fourteen soldiers were awarded Medals of Honor. Twelve of the fourteen awards were for the capture of flags of the Confederate Army, and two others were for recovery of a captured standard of the Union force. Second Lieutenant Andrew Kuder earned the Medal of Honor for his capture of a flag of the Confederate Army.

Notes:

Andrew served as assessor in Conesus and also for two years as President of the Hemlock Agricultural Society, which to this day still operates a fair that is on the National Registry of Historical Places.

Andrew Kuder, a volunteer of the late war, who rose to the rank of Captain, now a thriving farmer of the border town of Conesus, Livingston County, N.Y. was born in Groveland, near the center of the county, on November 11, 1838. His paternal grandfather, George, came from Germany, and settled in Pennsylvania, where his father, John, was born in 1802. John Kuder, who was a farmer, came to Sparta, N.Y., and from there to Groveland, where he bought a farm of 160 acres of land, upon which he lived for the remainder of his life. He married Miss Catherine Lorish, of Pennsylvania; and six children were born to them, all of whom are still living. The mother has completed her 88th year.

Andrew Kuder, who was the fourth child, was educated in the district schools at Groveland and the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary of Lima. After completing his education, he taught school for one term in Michigan, then returned to New York. In 1862 he enlisted in the Eighth New York Volunteer Calvary as a private, and was in Federal service until the close of the Civil War. Andrew Kuder?s military record was a brilliant one, in which his descendants may feel just pride. He fought through many of the important battles of the war, and was promoted successively to be Corporal, Sergeant, First Lieutenant, and Captain. With the last commission he was discharged, June 27, 1865, at Rochester. He was presented by Congress with a medal of honor for his distinguished bravery during the war. The occasion was his capture of a standard of colors from a division of Jubal Early's raiders in the Shenandoah Valley. The medal specifies the valorous deed for which it was awarded, and is esteemed a family treasure, one to be cherished as an heirloom by future generations of patriotic Kuders.

In the autumn of 1865 Captain Kuder bought the Hitchcock homestead, and married Miss Mary L. Hitchcock, the daughter of Hector and Mary (Loomis) Hitchcock, the former owners of the property. The Hitchcocks are descended from three brothers, who came from Wales to America in 1635, and founded the town of East Haven, Conn. To Captain and Mrs. Kuder three children have been born ? Halcyone, Dwight H. and Katherine.

Captain Kuder is a member of the Masonic Lodge, No. 778, of Livonia Station. He is also a member of Post 382, Grand Army of the Republic, of which he has been a commander. He has always been a Democrat in political creed, and cast his first presidential vote in 1860 for Stephen A. Douglas. He has held the office of Assessor of this town, and wsa President of the Hemlock Agricultural Society for two years. Shortly after he returned from the stirring scenes of warfare, with the memories of drum-beat and buglecall, bivouac and march, still fresh in his mind, he engaged in the peaceful pursuits of husbandry, to which he has since continued to devote himself with intelligent and unwearied activity. A portrait of the true-hearted son of the soil, whose spurs were nobly won in defending the Union, will attract the attention of the reader on another page of the "Review."

From: Biographical Review: The Leading Citizens of Livingston and Wyoming Counties, New York. Biographical Review Publishing Company, Boston, 1895, page 490 - 493.


Andrew Kuder:
Enlisted in Company L, New York 8th Cavalry Regiment on 25 Aug 1862.
Promoted to Full 1st Sergeant on 15 Oct 1864.
Promoted to Full 2nd Lieutenant on 01 Nov 1864.
Promoted to Full 1st Lieutenant on 13 Apr 1865.
Promoted to Full Captain on 31 May 1865.
Mustered out on 27 Jun 1865 at Alexandria, VA.

Hartwell B. Compson, Robert Niven, & Andrew Kuder
Waynesboro, VA 03/02/65

BRILLIANT CONDUCT IN A FIERCE BATTLE

LEAVING Winchester, Va., on February 27, 1865, General Sheridan began his march to Petersburg, Va., with the intention of destroying the Central Railroad and James River Canal. General Early with a large Confederate force stood ready to oppose and frustrate, if possible, the expedition, and upon learning of the approach of the Federals went into position at Waynesboro, Va. The two armies clashed March 2d. The rain had been pouring in torrents for two days and the roads were bad beyond description ; nevertheless the Union men seemed tireless, although neither they nor their horses could be recognized for the mud which covered them. General Early had at his disposal two brigades of infantry and some cavalry under General Rosser, the infantry occupying breastworks. General Custer was ordered to attack the enemy and, not wanting the Confederates to get up their courage during the delay that a careful reconnoissance necessitated, made his dispositions for attack at once, sending three regiments around the left flank of the enemy, which was somewhat exposed by being advanced from, instead of resting upon, the bank of the river in his immediate rear. "Our general committed an unpardonable error in posting so small a force with a swollen river in its rear and with its flanks wholly exposed," says a Confederate report of General Early's position. General Custer with two brigades, partly mounted and partly dismounted, at a given signal boldly attacked and impetuously carried the enemy's works, while the Eighth New York and the Twenty-second New York Cavalry formed in columns of fours, dashed over the breastworks and continued the charge through the little town of Waynesboro, the Twenty-second supporting the Eighth New York. The Eighth crossed the South Fork of the Shenandoah River-General Early's rear-where they formed with drawn sabres and held the east bank of the stream. The enemy being now pressed by Custer found their retreat cut off, and, completely disorganized, confused, bewildered, threw down their arms. Amidst cheers and hurrahs the victorious Federals surrounded their brave opponents.
The substantial result of this magnificent victory was the capture of the Confederate General Wharton and some 1,800 officers and men, fourteen pieces of artillery, seventeen battle- flags and a train of nearly two hundred wagons and ambulances, including General Early's headquarters wagon, containing all his official papers and records, 1,500 stands of small arms and 800 team horses and mules.
It was a battle where the Eighth New York Cavalry, under the gallant leadership of Major Hartwell B. Compson, earned undying fame. The major himself performed wonderful feats of bravery and set an example which electrified his men and inspired them to deeds of splendid heroism. At the head of his troops who were selected to make the attack, he charged down the highway into Waynesboro. The enemy had five pieces of artillery in the roadway and had thrown up earthworks on each side of the road ; behind these breastworks infantry was posted. He was at the head of his command with a color-bearer on one side and a bugler on the other, when they struck the Confederate forces and a hand-to- hand fight took place. Just then General Early and his staff moved down their front to direct the movement of the Confederate forces.
Coming upon Early's headquarters battle-flag he ordered the bearer to surrender. A fierce fight at close quarters ensued and finally a heavy blow with the sabre knocked his opponent from his horse and the flag was captured.
Breaking through the Confederates, he moved his forces down towards South River and kept up the charge until he reached the bank. Seeing that the enemy were closing in on his rear and that his support did not come up, he crossed the river and found earthworks thrown up on the opposite side from which the enemy could have prevented their crossing had they occupied them. He at once dismounted his men and placed them in the Confederate earthworks. Then when Custer pressed down upon the rebels they were forced to cross the river, where they were ordered to surrender. The result was that when the battle was over Colonel Compson's command alone had taken 800 prisoners five pieces of artillery, 1,500 stands of small arms and eight battle-flags.
Being needed no longer at the ford, Compson, who had noticed the enemy moving their wagon-trains over the mountains by way of Rock Fish Gap, followed with his regiment, overhauled it and captured everything in sight. It was in this action where Second Lieutenant Robert Niven, of Company H, of the same regiment, had a hot encounter with a body of rebels. "I was ordered to pick out five men from my company," says the lieutenant, " to go ahead as an advance guard and we pressed along the narrow, hilly road, densely lined with woods. By this time the atmosphere was quite foggy. I had gotten far in advance of my comrades when suddenly I found myself right in the midst of a wagon-train composed of about ten wagons and a dozen Confederates, commanded by a lieutenant. With a great show of bravery I ordered them to surrender and promised that every one who attempted to escape would be shot on the spot. But they saw that a one-man order to twelve scattered men was practically worthless, when the bushes around there offered such a good opportunity to get away. Consequently, when the regiment came up I had captured not only three or four prisoners, but also two rebel flags, ten army wagons with mules attached, the lieutenant's horse, and all of General Early's official papers."
Second Lieutenant Andrew Kuder, First Sergeant Charles A. Goheen and Sergeant Daniel Kelly of Company G, and also Corporal Henry H. Bickford and Sergeant James Congdon as well as Private John Miller of this same regiment, the Eighth New York Cavalry, were fortunate enough to capture rebel colors in this grand melee.
Rebel flags were also captured in this battle by Privates Peter O'Brien and Warren Carman, of the First New York Cavalry (Lincoln), and Harry Harvey, George Ladd and Michael Crowley of the Twenty-second New York Cavalry. All of above mentioned were awarded the Medal of Honor.



Died:
He was struck by lightning while at work in the carriage house on his farm in Conesus.

Family/Spouse: Mary L. Hitchcock. Mary (daughter of Hector Hitchcock and Mary Loomis) was born est 1840. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]