Identified Knapsack of John Kingsbury, 81st New York Infantry / SOLD
Identified Knapsack of John Kingsbury, 81st New York Infantry - Inventory Number: IDE 076 / SOLD
Soft pattern knapsack with stenciled paint identification: "J. Kingsbury - 81st N.Y.V." Complete with straps, several large tears on the right side and seam separtion on the left. Battles engaged in by the 81st included:
Siege of Yorktown
Battle of Williamsburg
Battle of Seven Pines
Seven Days Battles
Battle of White Oak Swamp
Battle of Malvern Hill
Bermuda Hundred Campaign
Battle of Cold Harbor
Siege of Petersburg
Battle of Chaffin's Farm
Battle of Fair Oaks & Darbytown Road
Battle of Appomattox Court House
John E. Kingsbury:
Residence was not listed; 27 years old.
Enlisted on 9/3/1861 at Sciba, NY as a Private.
On 9/14/1861 he mustered into "D" Co. NY 81st Infantry
He was transferred out on 8/11/1863
On 8/11/1863 he transferred into Veteran Reserve Corps
(date and method of discharge not given)
NEW YORK EIGHTY-FIRST INFANTRY (Three Years)
Eighty-first Infantry.-Cols., Edwin Rose, Jacob J. DeForest, John B. Raulston, David B. White; Lieut.-Cols., Jacob J. DeForest, William C. Raulston, John B. Raulston, David B. White, Lucius V. S. Mattison; Majs., Byron B. Morris, John McAmbly, William C. Raulston, David B. White, Edward A. Stimson, Lucius V. S. Mattison.
The 81st, the 2nd Oswego regiment, was raised mainly in Oneida and Oswego counties and was mustered into the U. S. service at Oswego and Albany from Dec., 1861, to Feb. 20, 1862, for three years. It left the state for Washington on March 5, 1862, was quartered for a short time at Kalorama heights and assigned to Palmer's brigade, Casey's division, 4th corps, with which it embarked for the Peninsula with the general advance of McClellan's army.
It was present during the siege of Yorktown; in the battles of Williamsburg and Savage Station; was closely engaged at Fair Oaks, with the loss of 137 killed, wounded and missing, among whom Maj. McAmbly was killed and Lieut.-Col. DeForest wounded. During the Seven Days' battles the regiment was employed in guarding trains, and after the evacuation of the Peninsula was stationed at Yorktown until December, from which point it undertook a number of expeditions into the surrounding country.
Assigned to the 1st brigade, Peck's division, 4th corps, the 81st embarked for North Carolina in Dec., 1862, and was stationed at Beaufort, and Morehead, N. C., in the 1st brigade, 2nd division, 18th corps. In Oct. 1863, the regiment returned to Newport News and performed outpost duty along the Dismal Swamp canal.
In December a sufficient number reenlisted to secure the continuance of the 81st as a veteran regiment, and upon their return from veteran furlough the regiment was assigned to the 1st brigade, 1st division, 18th Corps, with which it fought at Swift creek, Drewry's bluff and Cold Harbor.
In the two assaults on Cold Harbor the regiment took a prominent part and suffered the heaviest loss in its history, 212 killed or wounded and 3 missing, half of the number engaged. It continued in service before Petersburg; was sent to New York harbor in November; was attached to the 24th corps in December; was active in the assault on Fort Harrison, and was mustered out of the service at Fortress Monroe Aug. 31, 1865.
It earned a well-deserved reputation for gallantry and courage for which it paid the penalty of loss during service of 107 by death from wounds and 99 from other causes.
Inventory Number: IDE 076 / SOLD