Carved Soldier’s Pipe / SOLD

Carved Soldier’s Pipe - Inventory Number: SCU 070 / SOLD

Carved wood folk art soldier's pipe with a high relief hand holding the bowl. Around the rim in a banner is W. H. Britton 12th N.Y.V. Willet Britton enlisted in April of 1861 and served as a musician until he mustered out on May,17 1863.

This regiment was active in the siege of Yorktown; in May was assigned to the 3d brigade, 1st division, 5th corps, with which it fought through the Seven Days' battles; was in Gen. Pope's campaign in Virginia; lost 143 men at the second Bull Run in killed, wounded and missing; was in reserve at South mountain and Antietam; fought at Fredericksburg in December, and then went into camp at Falmouth.

Willet Britton

Residence was not listed; 18 years old.

Enlisted on 4/29/1861 at Syracuse, NY as a Musician.

On 5/13/1861 he mustered into "I" Co. NY 12th Infantry

He was Mustered Out on 5/17/1863 at Elmira, NY

Intra Regimental Company Transfers:

* 1/1/1862 from company I to Band

* 7/19/1862 from Band to company I

New York Twelfth Infantry.

Cols., Ezra L. Walrath, George W. Snyder, Henry A. Weeks, Benjamin A. Willis; Lieut.-Cols., James L. Graham, Robert M. Richardson, Augustus J. Root, William A. Olmstead  Majs., John Lewis, Henry A. Barnum, Augustus J. Root, Henry W. Ryder.

The 12th, the "Onondaga regiment," six companies of which were recruited at Syracuse, and the others at Liverpool, Homer, Batavia and Canastota, was mustered into the U. S. service for a three months' term at Elmira, May 13, 1861.  It left for Washington on the 28th and upon its arrival encamped upon Capitol hill until July 10, when it was assigned to the 4th brigade 1st division of the Army of Northeastern Virginia.

It was first under fire at Blackburn's ford with a loss of 34 men.  It was in reserve at Bull Run, then returned to Washington, encamped at Arlington heights and was transferred to Wadsworth's brigade, McDowell's division.

The 12th having been mustered into the state service for a two years' term was mustered into the U. S. service Aug. 13, 1861 for the remainder of the two years in spite of protest.  In Jan., 1862, it was reorganized and made a battalion of five companies, which was stationed near Washington at Forts Ramsay, Tillinghast, Craig and Buffalo until March 21, having been joined early in February by five companies of the reorganized 12th militia.

With Butterfield's brigade, Porter's division, 3d corps, the completed regiment moved via Fortress Monroe to Hampton and Yorktown, was active in the siege of Yorktown, in May was assigned to the 3d brigade, 1st division, 5th corps, with which it fought through the Seven Days' battles, was in Gen. Pope's campaign in Virginia, lost 143 men at the second Bull Run in killed, wounded and missing, was in reserve at South mountain and Antietam, fought at Fredericksburg in December, and then went into camp at Falmouth.

The original members not reenlisted were mustered out at Elmira May 17, 1863.  The three years men were formed into two companies which were transferred on June 2, 1864, to the 5th N.Y. veteran infantry. From May, 1864, the battalion of two companies served as provost guard with the 5th corps and was present through the Wilderness campaign.

The total loss of the 12th was 69 deaths from wounds and 68 from other causes.

Inventory Number: SCU 070 / SOLD