"Ancestors in the Civil War" Topic

Good stuff. Keep in coming.

Interesting stuff about the hat.

What's right about "Pioneer" patch? is it hatchets? or is our pick and shovel finally identified?

The thing I'd like to point out again is the picture is not definitively 100% Patrick Fitzpatrick. My father in law believes it is, but that could be from family assumptions.

From the NY state archives and the DOB of Patrick the best bet is that "our" Patrick joined the 13th NY Artillery in 1863. I wouldn't bet my life on it, but judging from all the evidence it seems to be the most likely possibility. All other listed Patrick Fitzpatrick's in the New York Registers do not gibe with his info.

the Picture of the uniformed soldier in the photograph has two secrets to reveal.

1. What type of regiment/company/unit would have that patch and that type of coat?

2. When we know that we can use the evidence to more definitively confirm or deny that the person in the picture is Patrick.

Thanks for all your continued effort on this topic

Matt

Matt:

I believe that the unit would be the 13th New York heavy Artillery. There is no 13th NY Artillery, per se, that would be considered a field artillery unit or battery.

For your information, and please bear with me if you know this already, Heavy Artillery units normally consisted of 3 battalions of 4 companies each. They could, and usually did, serve together, but on occasion, one battalion (or a couple of companies, etc) could be detached for other purposes. Regardless, these units were designed to garrison forts and other large defensive works. They were trained to operate the big guns, and also to serve as infantry. In 1864, many of these units were pulled from their forts and used as infantry during Grant's overland campaign.

Below is the text from: link regarding the 13th NY Heavy Artillery.

Organized at New York and mustered in at Elmira, N.Y., by Companies as follows: "A" August 12, 1863. "B" August 29. "C" September 11. "D" at Staten Island, N.Y., August 4, 1863. "E" at Fort Schuyler March 10, 1864. "F" February, 1864. "G" March 14. "H" February 18. "I" at Riker's Island November 10, 1863. "K" at Norfolk, Va., February 21, 1864. "L" June 11, 1864. "M" December, 1863. Companies "A," "B," "C," "D" left State for Norfolk, Va., October 5, 1863. Attached to Defenses of Norfolk and Portsmouth, Va., and Defenses of New Berne, N. C., Dept. of Virginia and North Carolina (1st and 2nd Battalions). 3rd Battalion (Cos. "I," "K," "L," "M") attached to Naval Brigade as guard on board vessels of war along Atlantic Coast and with James River fleet as Naval Brigade, Army of the James, Companies "A" and "H" attached to 3rd Division, 18th Army Corps, May, 1864, to January, 1865, and to Defenses of Bermuda Hundred, Va., to June, 1865, participating in Butler's operations on south side of the James River and against Petersburg and Richmond May 4-28, 1864. Before Petersburg June 15-18. Siege operations against Petersburg and Richmond June 16, 1864, to April 2, 1865. Fall of Petersburg April 2, 1865. (Co. "D" at Fort Fisher, N. C., January 15, 1865.) Expedition from Suffolk to Murfree's Depot, N. C., March 10-11, 1865 (Detachment). South Quay March 10. Expedition from Deep Bottom to near Weldon, N. C., March 28-April 11, 1865 (Detachment). Old members and Companies "I," "K," "L" and "M" mustered out June 28, 1865. Balance transferred to 6th New York Heavy Artillery July 18, 1865.

Regiment lost during service 1 Officer and 4 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 2 Officers and 144 Enlisted men by disease. Total 151.

As you can see, the history fits with the time frame you have mentioned for Patrick's enlistment. I may have some more data later.

V/R

The areas that the 13th Vol. Artillery was recruited from:

The companies were recruited principally: A at New York city, Albany, Buffalo and Watertown; B at New York city, Buffalo, Salamanca, Seneca and Watertown; C at New York city, Albany, Ellicottsville, Farmersville, Perrysburg and Watertown; D at Wells-ville, Cuba, Rushford, Candor, Elmira, Belfast and Greenwood; E at Schenectady, Ephratah, Providence, Clifton Park, Galway, Oppenheim, Amsterdam, Saratoga, Ballston, Johnstown, New Albion, Glenville, Waterford,, Randolph, Albany and Tompkins; F at Ballston, Charlton, Florida, Charleston, Broadalbin, Stillwater, Milton, Clifton Park, Palatine, Root, Malta, Johnstown, Cherry Creek, Waterford, Halfmoon, Providence and Duanesburgh; G and H at Caledonia, Pamelia, Paris, Starkey, Utica, Johnstown, Potsdam, Chateaugay, Malone, Mayfield, Belmont, Pinckney, Fairfield, Danube, Mexico, Con-stantia, Mooers and Syracuse; (Company H was originally intended for the 14th N. Y. Volunteer Artillery); I at New York city, Albany, Buffalo, Mamaroneck and Watertown; K at New York city; L at New York city and Buffalo; and M at New York city, Brook-lyn, Buffalo, Ballston, Broadalbin, Goshen, Halfmoon, Hanover, Johnstown, Pittstown, Plainfield and Waterford.

This does support Patrick going into Company A. Hillsdale is a small town is Near Albany in Columbia County, close to the Massachusetts border.

However, I am pretty confident that the patch on your guy's shoulder says Co. E. And it could be 13V or 13A underneath.

Fun following this up. I just finished researching my GGGG-Great Uncle, Austin Grout, A corporal in Co. C, 6th Vermont Volunteers. Don't have a picture of him…

I agree with the "Co. E" designation. Still trying to puzzle out the stuff below, though.

And I agree with you, it's always fun getting a researching challenge like this.

E at Schenectady, Ephratah, Providence, Clifton Park, Galway, Oppenheim, Amsterdam, Saratoga, Ballston, Johnstown, New Albion, Glenville, Waterford,, Randolph, Albany and Tompkins;

TKindred:

Well, Co. E was drawn from a wide area including Albany, so that Co. A may have been temporary or before a transfer.

Look up his name on the soldier and sailor data base to get an idea of how big of a pool you are working with.