Grand Army of the Republic Belt Plate and Belt / SOLD
Grand Army of the Republic Belt Plate and Belt - Inventory Number: VET 174 / SOLD
This belt belonged to Charles C. Wright of the 126th New York Infantry, captured at Harper’s Ferry, W. VA. With original tag.
Charles C. Wright:
Enlisted on 7/11/1862 at Phelps, NY as a Corporal at 18 year of age
On 8/22/1862 he mustered into "H" Co. NY 126th Infantry
He was discharged for disability on 10/31/1862 at Camp Douglas, Chicago, IL
He was listed as:
* POW 9/15/1862 Harper's Ferry, VA
* Paroled 9/16/1862 Harper's Ferry, VA
After the War he lived in Jackson County, WV In 1890
NEW YORK ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-SIXTH INFANTRY (Three Years)
One Hundred and Twenty-Sixth Infantry.-Cols., Eliakim Sherrill, James M. Bull, William H. Baird, Ira Smith Brown; Lieut-Cols., James M. Bull, William H. Baird, Ira Smith Brown, John B. Geddes; Majs., William H. Baird, Philo D. Phillips, Ira Smith Brown, Charles A. Richardson.
This regiment, recruited in the counties of Ontario, Seneca and Yates, was organized at Geneva, and there mustered into the U. S. service for three years, Aug. 22, 1862. At the close of 1864, when it had become much reduced in numbers by reason of its hard service, it was consolidated into a battalion of five companies, A to E.
The regiment left the state on Aug. 26, 1862, and took part in its first fighting during the siege of Harper's Ferry, where it received the brunt of the enemy's attack and suffered a large share of the casualties at Maryland and Bolivar heights. It lost 16 killed and 42 wounded during the fighting, and was surrendered with the rest of the garrison on Sept. 15.
The men were immediately paroled and spent two months in camp at Chicago, Ill., awaiting notice of its exchange. As soon as notice of its exchange was received in December, it returned to Virginia, encamping during the winter at Union Mills. The following extract is taken from Col. Fox's account of the regiment in his work on Regimental Losses in the Civil War: "In June, 1863, it joined the Army of the Potomac, and was placed in Willard's brigade, Alex. Hays' (3d) division, 2nd corps, with which it marched to Gettysburg where the regiment won honorable distinction, capturing 5 stands of colors in that battle.
Col. Willard, the brigade commander, being killed there, Col. Sherrill succeeded him, only to meet the same fate, while in the regiment the casualties amounted to 40 killed, 181 wounded and 10 missing. At Bristoe Station the regiment won additional honors by its conspicuous gallantry and sustained the heaviest loss in that action; casualties, 6 killed, 33 wounded and 10 missing.
The 126th having been transferred to Barlow's (1st) division, entered the spring campaign of 1864 with less than 300 men, of whom 100 were detailed at headquarters as a provost-guard. Its casualties at the Wilderness were 5 killed, 62 wounded and 9 missing; and at Po river and Spottsylvania, 6 killed, 37 wounded and 7 missing. Col. Baird was killed at Petersburg."
The regiment took part in the following important battles: Siege of Harper's Ferry-including Maryland and Bolivar heights; Gettysburg, Auburn ford, Bristoe Station, Morton's ford, Wilderness, Po river, Spottsylvania, North Anna, Totopotomy, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Weldon railroad, siege of Petersburg, Deep Bottom, Reams' station, Hatcher's run, and Sutherland Station, and was also present in the Mine Run campaign, at Strawberry Plains, Boydton Road, Farmville and Appomattox.
Commanded by Col. Brown, it was mustered out at Washington D. C., June 3, 1865. The total enrollment of the regiment during service was 1,036, of whom 16 officers and 138 men were killed and mortally wounded, or 14.7 per cent.; 1 officer and 121 men died of disease and other causes; total deaths, 17 officers and 259 men, 30 of whom died in the hands of the enemy. The total of killed and wounded in the regiment amounted to 535. The percentage of killed and mortally wounded at Gettysburg amounted to over 15, and the total casualties to 57.4 per cent.
Inventory Number: VET 174 / SOLD