LeRoy Pennysaver & News

LE ROY PENNYSAVER & NEWS - OCTOBER 10, 2021 by Lynne Belluscio When the Civil War began, recruiters from various units came to LeRoy. Many men joined the 100th New York Volunteers and others enlisted in the 105th New York, but little is known about the men who fought with the 8th Heavy Artillery. Many years ago, Bill Lane compiled information about LeRoy in the Civil War, yet there is no mention of the 8th Heavy Artillery. As it turns out, there are at least nine men who served in the 8th Heavy Artillery who are buried in Machpelah Cemetery and there may be more. Reading through the log book of the Staunton Post G.A.R (GrandArmy of the Republic – a veterans group) there are possibly another ten men from LeRoy who served with the 8th Heavy Artillery. The regiment was organized at Lockport as the 129th New York Volunteer Infantry but because heavy artillery was desperately needed for the defense of Baltimore in 1862, the regiment was converted from infantry to the 8th Heavy Artillery. The regiment at full capacity consisted of 2575 men. During service, the 8th lost 661 men in battle or of mortal wounds. That included 19 officers and 342 enlisted men. Four officers and 298 enlisted men died of disease. The Regiment served in the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House; Battle of North Anna; Battle of Cold Harbor; Siege of Petersburg; First Battle of Deep Bottom; Second Battle of Deep Bottom; Second Battle of Ream’s Station; Battle of Fort Stedman; Appomattox; and the Battle of Sailor’s Creek. The Regiment was mustered out on June 5, 1865 at the end of the war. In the Regimental history, it is noted that Sergeant LeRoy Williams, of Company G was awarded the Medal of Honor at the Battle of Cold Harbor. Williams, under heavy enemy fire, retrieved the body of their beloved commander, Colonel Peter Porter who fell as the regiment, under orders from General Ulysses S. Grant, stormed the ramparts of the Confederate line. Attempts over two days, to remove Porter’s body were unsuccessful, but Williams was determined. Later, when the 8th Heavy Artillery gathered for a reunion in LeRoy, it was reported in the LeRoy Gazette, that Williams had come from Cleveland to attend. Several years ago, the Historical Society acquired a powder horn which belonged to Pvt. Charles J. Youngs of LeRoy who served with the 8th Heavy Artillery. After contacting the seller, I learned that a collection of Youngs’ letters had been auctioned in 1996, and their whereabouts is unknown. However, some copies were made of the letters, and they were included in a Pennysaver Article I wrote several years ago. Youngs died of typhoid on August 3, 1864 and was buried in Arlington Cemetery in Washington, D.C.. The men of the 8th who are buried in Machpelah Cemetery include: Robert Clemens Jr.; John Curtiss; Stephen Doty; George Holmes; Daniel McMartin; James Morton Sr.; George Robertson; Alexander Shaw; and Sgt. John Thomas. Gathering additional information from the GAR files, we know that Stephen Doty was born in Boston, March 1, 1834. He enlisted in LeRoy in 1862 in Co I 129th Regiment and was reassigned when it became the 8th Heavy Artillery. He was discharged as Private at Lincoln Hospital on April 17, 1865 “by reason of wounds.” George Holmes, born May 7, 1840 in LeRoy enlisted August 30, 1862 as private in Co I for 3 years and was discharged as Sergeant on June 5, 1865. Daniel McMartin (MacMartin) was born 1830 in Caledonia and enlisted August 4, 1862 as private in Company I for 3 years. He was discharged as Corporal at Bailey’s Cross Roads VA on the 5th day of June 1865 by general order. George HRobertson, born 1839 in LeRoy enlisted May 7 1861 Co G 27th regiment for 2 years and was discharged as First Lieut. at Elmira on May 31 1863 at the end of his enlistment. He reenlisted on March 26 as a Private in Company I, 8th HeavyArtillery and was discharged as Captain at Munsons Hill, Virginia on May 30 1865. He was wounded in the leg at battle of Gaines Mill on June 27, 1862. He served as Commander of the Staunton Post GAR for several years. Alexander Shaw was born in Caledonia June 10, 1840 and enlisted July 18, 1862 as Private in Co I 129th which became the 8th Heavy Artillery. He was discharged as a private at Fort Federal Hill Baltimore MD June 19, 1863 because of a disability. The Staunton Post GAR files include additional men in the 8th Heavy Artillery: Manfred Duguid, Edward Williams, Theodoric C. Rawson, Peter Gallagher, Lewis Webber, Thomas Hillman, Fidelio Eddy, John Houston and Mark Bassett. These men might not be originally from LeRoy, but may have moved here after the war. They joined the GAR because it was the local veterans group. If any of these men are part of your family’s history, please contact the Historical Society so we can add more to the information. We are searching through our clipping files and genealogy files to add to their stories. These men were married, and had families, but that information is not included in their military records. Plans are being made to clean the stones at Machpelah Cemetery this fall. The Eighth Heavy Artillery Martin Lewis Swift of the 8th Heavy Artillery lies in Machpelah Cemetery. He was mortally wounded at Cold Harbor. He was not from LeRoy, but His body was returned to LeRoy where his father lived. In 2014, his family dedicated a plaque on the sesquicentennial of his death.