Julius Welch (1844 - 1899) Civil War Veteran

With this year being the 150th anniversary of the beginning of the Civil War, I have been reviewing the research I have been doing into my family history.  My last post here was a draft of the story of Isadore Bushnoe, one of my paternal grandfathers.  I am just finishing the chapter on Isadore's life and service in the Civil War and will be posting that soon. 

In the meantime,  this post is about one of my maternal grandfathers who lived in Clinton County and served in the 96th NY Infantry Regiment during the Civil War.  I've included background material about the Civil War to set Julius' service in perspective.

Julius Welch (1844-1899)

Julius Welch was born in Mooers, NY in 1844, the son of Timothy Welch and Polly Jewell Welch.  His father was 38 and his mother was 32 when he was born.  The 1850 US Census finds the family still living in Mooers where Timothy was farming. Six year old Julius had two sisters, 14 year old Laura and eleven year old Maria.

By the 1860 US Census, Julius was living in Altona at the home of his sister and brother-in-law; Russell and Laura Cook.  Julius’ older brother, Ira Welch, also lived with the Cooks at this time.   

Russell Cook is later found on the roster of the 96^th NY Infantry Regiment.  He enlisted as a Private in Plattsburgh on 24 February, 1864 at the age of 27.  Five days later on February 29, he was assigned to Company B.  He and Julius served together from the time  Julius was drafted  until both were discharged 6 February 1866.  Ira Welch was also drafted into the 96^th, serving in Company D.  He failed to return home with his brother and brother-in-law, having died in Virginia in 1866.

Julius Welch’s service in the “War of the Sixties” began on March 15, 1865 when the 24 year old went to Plattsburgh, NY and was processed as a draftee.  He became a private in the 96^th NY Infantry Regiment.  The 96^th , also known as the "Plattsburgh Regiment" or "McComb's Regiment", had seen action in Virginia and North Carolina from the onset of hostilities in 1861.  Julius would serve primarily with the occupation forces in Virginia during his tour of duty.

Prior to reporting for duty with the 96^th, Julius and Julia Maria Bell were married in Mooers on 25 March 1865.

Civil War hostilities had begun at Fort Sumpter, North Carolina on 12 April 1861.  The war would officially end 9 April 1865 with the surrender of Confederate general Robert E. Lee to Union commander, General Ulyssus S. Grant at Appomattox Courthouse in Appomattox, Virginia.

Never before had our young nation faced a situation where citizen faced fellow citizen on the battlefield. 

The US population in 1860 was approximately 31.5 million (27.5 million were “free” citizens and the remaining 4 million, slaves). North and South mobilized a total of 325,000 soldiers or about ten percent of the total US population.  Confederate forces numbered 1,064,000 and Union troops 2,200,000.

Over 600,000 would die by the end of the war.  The Union casualties would include 110,000 killed in action with another 250,000 dead of disease, accident, etc.  On the Confederate side, 93,000 would be killed in action and another 165,000 dead of disease, accident, etc.  In addition to the 618,000 dead were 412,000 wounded (275,000 Union and 137,000 Confederate).

By the end of the war, over one million troops were either dead or wounded: fully one third of all troops committed to battle.  Add to the human cost the destruction and devastation in the border and southern states, the toll taken by the conflict affected the reunited nation for decades.

Life for the soldiers during the war was difficult and often too much to bear.  Although accurate figures were hard to compile, there may have been as many as 300,000 total desertions as the effects of the fighting and day-to-day living conditions took their toll.

There were many reasons for men leaving their units.  Troops were often poorly armed and equipped.  Food was also subject to scarcity.  Forced marches caused less fit soldiers to lag behind, providing an opportunity for the more disheartened to slip away and attempt to return home rather than catch up with their units.  Disease was common.  Soldiers left behind in campaigns to convalesce would sometimes take the opportunity to leave.  Distance and separation from families would lead Union troops to decide to leave if given the opportunity.  Southern soldiers were more likely to be fighting to protect their families than for the grand cause of the South.   As a result, concern for those back home would prove incentive for Confederate soldiers to slip away.  The recent movie, “Cold Mountain” showed a fictional account of just a situation involving a Southern soldier.

All in all, the conflict proved a difficult, costly and extremely traumatic chapter in American history.

Initially headquartered in Plattsburgh, the 96^th New York Infantry Regiment was also referred to as the “Plattsburgh Regiment” or as “Macomb’s Regiment”.  It was mustered in from 20 February to 7 March 1862 in Plattsburgh.  The ten regimental companies were recruited mainly from the following areas:

                                    Company A – Chateaugay

                                    Company B, C, D, H & K – Plattsburgh and surrounding area

                                    Company E – Fort Edward

                                    Company F – Chazy and Mooers

                                    Company G – Ticonderoga

                                    Company I – Warrensburg

The 96^th was initially assigned to the 1^st Brigade, 3^rd Division, 4^th Corps of the Army of the Potomac in March 1862.  Over the next three years, regimental assignments would include the Department of North Carolina and the Army of the James.

Service was primarily in Virginia and North Carolina.  Battles and campaigns included the Siege of Yorktown, the Seven days Battle and Proctors Creek, all in Virginia and Gardiner’s Bridge in North Carolina.

During Julius’ enlistment, he served in the occupation of Richmond which began 3 April 1865.  By 1 September 1865, Julius was promoted to Corporal by Colonel Stephen Moffit, Regimental Commander.  He was also part of the Department of Virginia occupation forces until the regiment was mustered out 6 February 1866.

In today’s army, a regiment is 2,000 to 3,000 soldiers.  It is made up of 2 or more battalions and is commanded by a colonel.  The 96^th was approximately the same size.  The combined number of dead and wounded stood at 230 or approximately 10% of its total complement. This is a rate less than the one third casualty rate of the combined Union and Confederate armies.  The Regiment lost 48 men killed in action (3 officers and 41 enlisted men), 22 men wounded (3 officers and 19 enlisted men).  In addition, 160 men died of other causes including disease and injury (2 officers and 158 enlisted men). The 206 men dead, (9 officers and 197 enlisted men) included 36 enlisted deaths of soldier in  the hands of Southern forces.

After completing his enlistment terms, Julius was honorably discharged at City Point Virginia on 6 February 1866.  His discharge documents describe him as 5’9”, with a light complexion, with blue eyes and light colored hair. 

He subsequently returned to his new bride in northern New York.  Since his brother-in-law Russell Cook was discharged on the same day, it is highly likely they made their way home from Virginia to Ellenburg together.  It is ironic to note that while one third of forces committed by both sides was either killed or wounded, the same held true for the trio of the Welch brothers and Russell Cook - two returned, one did not.

The 1870 US Census finds Julius and his young family in Ellenburg, New York.  The 26 year old farmer and his 22 year old wife have one daughter; Florence 3 and one son; Alverna 1.

By 1880, the census shows the family still in Ellenburg.  Julius, now 36  and Maria have 5 children: Florence age 13, Alverna age 11, Nettie age 8, Albert age 5 and Addie (Adah) age 2.  He is listed as still farming.

Julius died 29 August 1899 at age 55 in Ellenburg.  His obituary published in the Plattsburgh Sentinel on 8 September 1899 reads:

“Julius Welch, an old resident of Ellenburgh and one of our best citizens

 passed away to the other shore Tuesday p. m.  Mr. Welch was a veteran

 of the war of the sixties and had been a sufferer from chronic asthma

 for many years.  At last, his lungs became involved and the

 end came.  He leaves a large family and a large circle of friends

 to mourn his loss.”

The following resolution was published the same day:

ELLENBURGH CENTRE, Sept. 2

—Resolutions of McGregor Post, No. 463, G. A. R.: —Whereas death has again visited our membership and  moved therefrom our comrade, Julius  Welch late private of Co. A, 96th N. Y. Inf. therefore, Resolved, That as God in his infinite wisdom has removed from among us our beloved comrade Julius Welch, to his eternal rest and reward that we most humbly submit to his over-ruling power and Resolved, That the sympathy and condolence of the members of this Post with a copy of these resolutions be transmitted to the bereaved family and friends; Resolved. That our charter be draped in mourning and a copy of these resolutions be entered in our minutes also furnished for publication in our county papers and the Chateaugay Record.

S. D. Mix Com.

Joseph Gibson Adj.

The family also had the following printed on September 8:

CARD OF THANKS

The family of the late Julius Welch wish through your paper to thank

 friends and neighbors for their kind ness and death of their

husband and father, also the Post for their attendance at the last

 sad rites. May Heaven's choicest blessings rest on all.

MRS. JULIUS WELCH