Copies of the unit histories of the 126th Regiment of Infantry are available you would like to read them.

Mr. Melvin N. Bunce, son of Loomis and Mary Bunce, of Barrington, Yates Co., fell in the Battle of Gettysburg, on the 2d of July, 1863, aged 20 years.

Never in the history of battles did a more noble band volunteer in their country's defense than the valiant youths who swelled the ranks of the army ——— ——— in her pres­ent struggle. Of such we ever have, and ever shall be proud. They would grace any nation or period. Intelligent, refined, patriotic and full of courage, they seemed to feel their destiny inseperably joined with their country, and life, friends, and all of Earth became a willing tribute. Grate­fully, they made the offering, and a grateful posterity shall enshrine their memory with that of the soldier patriots of our Revolutionary era. A country that has raised and in­spired such sons shall be never be ruth­lessly despoiled by despots. The land of promised freedom to down­trodden millions—the land of immortal statesman—is guarded by sentinels who never sleep until they sleep in death. Even then, each sentinel, watching his hour, retires; yet the sentry is unbroken. The ranks temporarily invaded are refilled. A defeat calls a host never to be defeated. Thou­sands slain in battle is but the summons for tens of thou­sands to take the field. The shouts of the rebellious legions over the illustrious fallen—the cruelties of a foe maddened and depraved, reckless to all right, all honor, all human­ity—steeped in treason, blind with rage and benumbed by oppression and treachery; only roused the hearts that knew no fear and heeded no promptings but those of humanity and of God. And the clearer the sense of right and wrong, the more delicate shades of character, the more careful the moral training of the home circle, the more audible became the appeal. Such have an ear ever attentive, any eye open to the slightest suggestions of duty.

The rush of these to the battle was not fiery and fierce, not infuriated, and wild as the roar of the cataract. It did not sweep and bury in a moment as the avalanche. It was fixed, steady, majestic, and though slow, unmis­take­ably sure; becoming in the hand of the Great Avenger the scourge upon the incorrigibly vile.

Among those who thus enlisted was Melvin N. Bunce, of Co. B. 126th Reg't N.Y.S.V.

A registry of facts connected with the history of the Regiment may be seen in the family residence, supplying the following [possibly from letters written home by Melvin Bunce]:

August 8th, 1862, Company organized and mus­tered. August 22nd, Regiment organized and mustered. Aug. 28th, arrived at Harpers Ferry. Sept. 12th and 13 in battle at Maryland Heights, where our Col. and many of the Reg't were wounded. Sept. 14th at Bolivar Heights, and under fire all day from batteries on Laudon Heights. Sept. 15th seven batteries opened upon us at daylight from different directions, killing seven and wounding two of this Co., and at eight o'clock we were all surrendered as prisoners of war to Stonewall Jackson. Sept. 16th paroled and marched within the Federal lines. Sept. 21st arrived at Annapolis after a long march on foot. Sept. 24th left Annapolis for Camp Douglas, Ill. Sept. 27th arrived at Camp Douglas at 12 o'clock at night, and laid down on the ground after a long and fatiguing march by steamboat and railroad. Sept. 28th go into barracks where we remain to this date, Nov. 1st, 1862.

After their exchange they were sent to Union Mills, Va., and still later to Centreville, near which place they remained till just before the battle at Gettysburg.

Melvin was an only son, having an only sister, and kind parents, who from the cradle had heeded or anti­ci­pated his every want, and cared for his slightest welfare. Reared in a home of neatness, taste and affluence, early trained mentally and to habits of industry, he was prepar­ing for the more active duties of life, when amid the pleas­ant scenes of youth, sounded the hoarse din of war; and he resolved to be a soldier. The consideration of his extreme youth, his frail constitution, or the persuasions of friends could only detain him for a time, but did not serve to dampen his zeal; and in July, 1862, he enlisted, when about 19 years of age. He resolved to go. He endured all that most soldiers are called upon to encountre. After their detention at Chicago his health was much impaired. Yet he would not heed the least suggestion to seek or accept a discharge. He felt from the first a firm conviction that it was his duty to go. He often said he "had but one life to give, and was willing to give it—he was no better to go than others."

When suffering from sickness in camp he was prompt in duty, and when a battle was in prospect he could not be restrained, as his fellow soldiers testify. He even disre­garded the caution which seemed imperatively necessary. At the battle in which he fell the officers and privates urged him to go to the hospital. He replied, he had "come there to fight, and should do what he could." So reduced had he become that he was brought to the field in an am­bu­lance, yet he could not be kept from the battle. Co. B. took the rebel colors bearing the inscription "Harpers Ferry," showing that those who were now conquered were the same to whom they had been basely surrendered nearly a year before.

On the second day of the battle his Reg't with the 1st and 2d Army Corps charged on rebel batteries, and took them. As they retired, when ordered to fall back, he proba­bly fell, fatally wounded, at about 5 o'clock P.M. He is re­ported to have been seen by a comrade after his death; yet it is a grief to his friends that no one knows whether he fell into rebel hands or not. It appears probable that he was found by the party detailed for the burial of the dead and was buried by them among others unknown to them. The search of officers and friends, including his own father, was unavailing. The lingering hope that he might be living, and at some hospital, failed, as the hospitals far and near were searched, and this added to the general; though somewhat conflicting testimony, increased the probabilities to almost a moral certainty that he was dead. Over the closing mo­ments of his life the haze, and din, of battle is spread, and the spot of his final repose will probably remain unknown until the battle fields yield their charge at the last day. Til then, he rests, a soldier

When he was the Co. bugler, he would give the call to duty, then snatch up the gun of some sick soldier and rush into the ranks, saying he would "do what he could."

All this he has done; and having done it, for the first time retires from the contest. Other lives must be sacri­ficed; but the country lives, for which they died, and it shall, when the hosts of treason and oppression are over­whelmed in that infamy so justly merited and so surely theirs. But our fathers, sons and brothers gather lustre as they fall, and shall fill the scroll of our future as the stars of the heaven shine in the firmanent of night.