Friday, March 7, 1862
The 96th Regiment organized at Plattsburgh, during the winter of 1861-2, under the command of Col. James Fairman, was mustered into the service of the United States and ready for "marching orders."
Sunday, April 6, 1862
Was killed in battle Capt. Edward Saxe, grandson of the pioneer John Saxe and son of Jacob who first engaged in business in Sheldon, Vt., and afterwards with his brothers Matthew and Peter at West Chazy, At the beginning of the war of 1812, Jacob removed his merchandise t the storehouse at Chazy Landing, and on the approach of a large force of British, took the same on batteaux to Orwell, VT., where the only sister of the Saxe brothers cared for them. The war over, there was as short period spent in Chazy before removal to the mouth of the Salmon river (Port Gilliland) where he built a blast furnace, sawmill, dams, charcoal kilns, etc., employing forty men. The freshet of 1830 swept all these buildings and dams into the lake, but the stone dwelling which he built still stands. He spent the closing years of his life in Sheldon to which his wife had gone during the British invasion and where she plainly heard the booming of cannon during the battle of Plattsburgh.
Monday, May 26, 1862
On the Williamsburgh road, in Virginia,
leading the reserve pickets, Major John E. Kelly of the 96th fell, struck by
four bullets. His remains, in charge of Capt. Sweeney, were taken to his
stricken family in Plattsburgh.
One more captain on God's field
Armed with mightier sword and shield
Than of yore his arms could wield.
---Buckham
Tuesday, June 17, 1862
In Virginia, occurred the death of Capt. Darius A. Parsons of the 96th N.Y.V. He was a lawyer by profession and left a widow (who survived until August, 1909) and two young children. His parents were Capt. David R. and Lillis M. (Mason) Parsons of Beekmantown; his grand-parents, David Parsons, pioneer from Long Island and Aaron Mason, an early settler at West Plattsburgh. The remains of Capt. Parsons were the first brought to the home town and his funeral is said by eye-witnesses, to have been the largest within memor..
Wednesday, September 17, 1862
The battle of Antietam. In the morning, as Lieut.-Col. John Stetson of the 59th New York
(Formerly captain of Company E, 16th N.Y.) with his regiment was leaving the field in
obedience to the orders of Gen. Sumner, he was shot through the body, his remains being
left in the hands of the enemy until the 19th, when they were found and buried by Maj.
Frank Palmer, his fellow townsman and friend. "Rally in your colors." - The
last words of Col. Stetson.
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