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| − | ==1858==
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| − | ===Clipping, publisher unknown. Pencil notation, 15 November, 1858===
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| − | ====Review of the Sixth Regiment United States Infantry====
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| − | The arrival of the efficient Regiment at [[Fort Benicia, California|Benicia,]] after its arduous and unprecedented march of 2100 miles from [[Fort Leavenworth, Colorado|Fort Leavenworth,]] was briefly announced by us last week; but the distinguished reputation it has won in the Army in the course of many years continued service in the field, under the eminent officers who have successively filled the Colonelcy of the Regiment, entitles it to more than a passing notice.
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| − | On Wednesday last it was our fortune to witness at its encampment, near the United States Barracks, at Benicia, a spectacle rarely beheld in time of peace, and no common occurrence in war; one that the citizens of California are not likely to view for many years, owing to the exigencies of the service in the department of such wide extent of territory. On that day its veteran Colonel, [[Newman S. Clarke|Brevet Brigadier-General Clarke,]] commanding the Department of California, reviewed and inspected the Regiment, in its full complement of ten companies, numbering in all 600 rank and file. The occasion was the more interesting from the fact, that although he was promoted to its Colonelcy twelve years since, the Regiment has never been collected together during the period of his command, until its various companies were concentrated previous to its march over the continent.
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| − | It is proper to give a succinct history of the career of a corps of such enviable repute. Forming part of fo the regular organization previous to the war of 1812, it reaped numerous laurels in the severe engagements that occurred on our northern frontier. It is worthy of note that its present Colonel, [[Newman S. Clarke|General Clarke,]] was promoted to a Captaincy in the Regiment in 1815, exactly forty three years ago.
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| − | Upon the reduction of the Army in 1816, it was in part incorporated with the remnants of other corps, still retaining its numerical distinction, and under the brave [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Atkinson_%28soldier%29 Gen. Atkinson,] served many years on our North-western boundaries, in conducting surveys and quelling Indian outbreaks. Subsequently transferred to the frontiers of Arkansas and the present state of Texas, it preformed equally
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| − | ==1862==
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| − | ===Obituary, Delhi, New York? Undated Clipping===
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| − | '''Died''' of a gun shot wound, received at the battle of Gaines' Mill, near Richmond, on the 27th June last, Captain Rensselaer W. Foote, of the 6th regiment U. S. Army.
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| − | Captain Foote was a native of this village, and was born on the 12th November, 1815. He was son of the late Hon. Charles A. Foote, and grandson of the late Judge Ebenezer Foote. His grandfather was a distinguished officer of the Revolution, serving through the greater part of the war, being a portion of the time, one of the military family of the Commander-in-Chief, Gen. Washington.
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| − | His father was for many years a prominent member of the bar of this County, and also represented the Congressional District, comprising the counties of Delaware and Greene, in the National Legislature.
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| − | The subject of this notice was bred a printer, but feeling an ardent desire for military life, through the assistance of friends, he procured the appointment of 2d Lieutenant in the Regular Army of the U. S., in November of 1833 [1838? -dff]. He immediately joined the regiment to which he was assigned and remained in service from that time until the close of his brilliant career, as above mentioned. During this period, but few officers performed more arduous duties, or discharged them more faithfully, than did Capt. Foote.
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| − | He was an active participant in the Florida War, having been in most of the battles then fought, much of the time acting as captain, though he was in fact but a Lieutenant.
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| − | He always ''led'' his men in battle; by his steady courage inspiring his men in the fight. His conspicuous bearing and bravery were such as to draw the particular attention of his savage foe, and several attempts on their part to take his life having failed, they, in their superstition, at last regarded him as leading a charmed life and he became the most dreaded of our officers. At the close of the war, but five of his brother officers of the regiment survived with him.
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| − | That campaign being ended, and Capt. Foote's reputation for dealing with the Indians having become fully established, the Government transferred him tot he frontier posts in the then far Northwest, where he remained for many years. While there, he received his commission as Captain. During a portion of the time, he was 150 miles above St. Paul. In the discharge of his duties, he traversed the mighty Mississippi from its source to its mouth. A few years since, his regiment was ordered to cross the plains to California. He accompanied it in its long and tedious march to that state. After remaining there a short period, he was transferred to the territory of Arizona. While in that territory, his health failed him, and he was obliged to return to the East to recruit his shattered constitution. When the rebellion now existing broke out, his strength was not restored, yet such was his love for the old flag of his country, and so strong was his desire to join in the suppression of that rebellion, that (although entirely unfit for duty) he could hardly be restrained from joining his regiment. After a few months, (to him those of restraint) he again urged the proper authorities to be allowed to resume the command of his company. His desire to do so being so strong, his friends joined in the request, and he was once more ordered to active duty. In his last battle he was acting as the Lieutenant Colonel of his regiment. He went with it gallantly into the fight at Gaines' Mill,, where his great courage and skill were conspicuous as of old. In the early part of the action, he received a severe wound in his hand, but refusing to leave the field, he remained in the faithful discharge of his duties until the fatal shot, which at once deprived him of life.
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| − | <br>He met death where every brave and true officer should desire to meet it—in the face of the foe, and in defense of his Government.
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| − | <br>In private life he was kind and courteous, uniting the qualities of gentleman and soldier, and by his brilliant career has added to the fame of his already distinguished name.
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| − | <br>His memory is held in grateful remembrance by all true lovers of that country which he so long and so faithfully served, and for which he so gallantly died. Com.
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| − | ===Capt. R. W. Foote Killed.===
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| − | We stated last week that Mr. C. A. Foote had gone to Washington to investigate the reported capture of his brother, Capt. '''Rensselaer W. Foote''', by the Rebels. That investigation revealed to Mr. Foote the afflicting intelligence that his brother, instead of being made a prisoner, was killed on the field of battle. Mr. Foote was informed by the Col. of his brother's regiment that one of his Sergeants, (McIntyre) reported that he stood within four feet of Capt. Foote when he was killed. It was at the battle of Gaine's Mills', on the 27th of June, near the close of the action. He saw Capt. Foote throw up his arms and fall dead on his face — The Rebels immediately occupied the ground. He has been reported to the War Department as killed. Capt. '''Foote''' was educated a soldier at West Point. He was a classmate of the now Rebel General, Beauregard. He has been on duty in the Regular Army twenty-four years, having entered as 2d Lieutenant in 1838. He served with great credit all through the Florida War. During the Mexican war he was in charge of a military post on the frontier, in Arkansas.— The exposures and severe duties on the frontier had very much impaired his health, so much so that the authorities at Washington had urged upon him the duty he owed to himself of retiring from the service, offering to retire him on pay. But his noble spirit recoiled at the idea of leaving the service of his country in its hour of peril. After the most urgent solicitations by himself, and his friends at his request, he was permitted to take the field. Right nobly did he lay down his life in the cause that occupied a place so near his heart. None knew him that will not personally mourn his loss; and all will honor his memory for his noble, self-sacrificing bravery and unflinching ardor for his country and its best interests. He was about 47 years.
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| − | ===The Official Record===
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| − | Order was, however, soon restored and the regiment again place in position, which it continued to hold throughout the balance of the day, exposed at time to a heavy fire from the enemy, from which it only retired when the troops occupying the field to the right and left of it had fallen back at the close of the contest, causing its right flank to be exposed to a severe fire of musketry, which killed and wounded a number of men in the companies on the right of the line.
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| − | A list of casualties upon this occasion has already been furnished. Of those men then reported as missing several of the soldiers have since joined their companies. Captain Foote, who was reported among the missing, is, upon a report of a sergeant who saw him shot about the time the regiment began to retire from the field, supposed to have been killed…
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| − | The officers present with the regiment in the battle of the 27th ultimo were, Captain T. Hendrickson, commanding the regiment; Lieutenant Sanders, adjutant; Capt. R. W. Foote, acting field officer; Capt. L. C. Bootes, commanding Company G; Capt. B. F. Smith, commanding Company E; Capt. John McCleary, commanding Company H; Capt M. Bryant, commanding Company D; First Lieut. H.A.F. Worth (wounded) commanding Company K; First Lieut. Joseph B. Rife, commanding Company F; who acted with coolness throughout the day. The same officers, except Captain Foote and Lieutenant Worth, were with the regiment in the battle of the 2d instant…
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| − | —T. Hendrickson, Captain, Sixth Infantry, Commanding Regiment. Acting Assistant Adjutant-General, Hdqrs. Second Brig., Sykes Division, Camp near James River, Va.
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| − | ==References==
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| − | The War of the Rebellion: a Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. The Peninsular Campaign, Va.; Series 1 - Volume 11 (Part II), p. 374:
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| − | Author: United States. War Dept., John Sheldon Moody, Calvin Duvall Cowles, Frederick Caryton Ainsworth, Robert N. Scott, Henry Martyn Lazelle, George Breckenridge Davis, Leslie J. Perry, Joseph William Kirkley, http://dlxs2.library.cornell.edu/cgi/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=moawar;cc=moawar;q1=foote;rgn=full%20text;idno=waro0013;didno=waro0013;view=image;seq=0376
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| − | Retrieved 10 March, 2010.
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| − | ----
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| − | [[Category:Rensselaer William Foote Papers]]
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