Grand Lodge of New York - Onondaga and Oswego Masonic District ...

Captain Goodrich accepted the flag with these words: “My social position and pecuniary circumstances are such that I could stay
home and enjoy the society of my family, who are dearer than life to me, as well as most people can. I have not taken this step
rashly. I have not been influenced by any sudden excitement. I have thoroughly considered the whole matter, and have come to the
conclusion that it is a duty I owe my country, to surrender up my life, if need be, in her defense. As I said in the beginning , I cannot
make a speech now; but if God spares my life to return and meet you again, I will then make a speech. But one thing, fellow
citizens, you may rest assured of, I shall never disgrace that beautiful flag you have just presented me. I shall stand by it and defend
it to the last; and if I fall, you may depend upon it, it will be at the post of duty”
William Goodrich was appointed to Lt. Colonel on 8 Oct 1861 and mustered in at that grade 31 Oct 1861. The regiment left for
Washington on November 1, 1861. They were involved in guarding the Baltimore Ohio Railroad for the first 6 months of their
service. William Goodrich was promoted to Colonel May 1, 1862 in place of Col. George Sears Greene who was promoted to
brigadier general. His military papers state that he was with the regiment all the time after, except for eight days leave of absence to
recover from illness in late June. One card mentions a court martial involving him as Lt. Col. Dated July 1, 1862.No more information
on that court martial. During the winter months of early 1862 his wife and child visited him near Baltimore. In one soldier’s letters one
can read between the lines that Col. Goodrich was, at times, a harsh disciplinarian. In drills he would berate the men until they got
it right. That summer the regiment was stricken with many cases of Typhoid fever and taken out of active duty. They were sent to a
resort area called White Sulfur Springs, VA to regain their health. They recovered in time to retreat from Stonewall Jackson’s Army
and were involved in a support role for the Second Battle of Bull Run.
At Antietam, Sept 16th and 17th 1862 he was commander of the 60th until the day before the battle when the commander of the 3rd
brigade became ill. He was put in command of that brigade in Greene’s Division on the 16th.
Col. Goodrich must have had a premonition of his death because he talked over arrangements, in case of his death, with his friend
and acting Sgt. Major Lester Willson. On the 17th the brigade was detached from the division and sent to the aid of Doubleday’s 1st
Corps division on the right of the Union line. The rebels at that time had possession of the
“Cornfield”, and were desperately fighting to obtain an adjacent portion of woods. Into this
woods Colonel Goodrich led his men, and, deployed a portion of them as skirmishers,
held the enemy in check. The Colonel was firm, cool and determined, and encouraged
his men to do their best.
In a short time he was seen to fall. His friend Willson went to him immediately, and
assisting in raising him from the ground. After recovering from the first sensation of
faintness, he exclaimed, “My God! I am hit!” and sank away in unconsciousness. A riffle
ball, probably sent by a sharpshooter, perhaps fired at him from a treetop, entered his
right breast, and passed down behind the stomach, severed an artery near the
intestines. He was taken to a barn just to the rear of the line of battle, where he
revived. On seeing his friend he smiled and was greatly pleased. He spoke of his family
in most endearing terms, calling them by name, and repeated his request that his
remains be sent home. For a few moments he seemed delirious; but reason returning he
exclaimed “I have always tried to do my duty!” internal hemorrhage gradually weakening
his robust frame, he gently, and without suffering passed from life. Colonel Goodrich’s
body was taken back to Canton by Lester Willson. The village held a largely attended
funeral, with military honors, that including his war horse in the funeral procession. He
was buried in the back yard of his residence on Judson Street.
It was anticipated that he would reburied in a new cemetery when that was established. There are conflicting reports whether this
was done or not. Reading between the lines of some reports it looks like he was reburied in Evergreen Cemetery but after a visit by
his daughter Stella and her considering that the monument was not being cared for, both he and his wife were re-interred in The
Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, NY in lot 30802 section 65. They were buried May 7, 1901.
Stella had married Charles Russell the son of Thomas V. Russell a prominent lawyer from Canton. Charles was also a lawyer but
practiced in Brooklyn. Years after his death, a street was named after him and still remains Goodrich Street. His house was
demolished in the 1980’s to make way for an expansion to the County Jail. From what I can tell it looks like his house was about the
location of the parking lot for the jail.
William Bingham Goodrich lived a hard but fairly short life. He accomplished much and was successful in most that attempted. His
leadership and patriotism was a reason for the success of the 60th Regiment in the Civil War.
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