ALBERT and JOSEPH BROTHERS – 96th INFANTYTWO OUT OF 3 BROTHERS KILLED - In October 1861, 2 brothers enlisted in the 96th Infantry in Plattsburgh, Albert Brothers who was killed in action at Fair Oaks on October 27, 1864, and Joseph Brothers, who survived the war. They were sons of Edouard Brodeur dit Lavigne and Lucie Gagné, both born in Quebec. After their eldest son, Edward, was born in Boucherville, in 1835, the small family moved to Chazy where the other 9 children were born. A third brother, Lewis, was in the Civil War. He enlisted in the 118th Infantry in 1861 but did not come home. He was killed in action at Drewry’s Bluff.Albert and Joseph were both mustered into Company F on November 15th and promised to serve for 3 years. Company F was recruited mainly in Chazy and Mooers. They went to Washington in March 1862 and joined the Army of the Potomac. Within a week they were at the Siege of Yorktown. They didn’t lose their first blood until the end of May at the 1st Battle of Fair Oaks. The regiment stayed in Virginia and North Carolina for 1862 and 1863.They were transferred to the Army of the James in April 1864, Albert and Joseph re-enlisted as veterans, and the 96th formed a part of the 1st Brigade, 1st Division. During May it was present at Swift Creek, Proctor's Creek, Drewry's Bluff and Bermuda Hundred, and joined the Army of the Potomac at Cold Harbor at the beginning of that battle. We wonder if Albert and Joseph knew their brother was killed on May 16, 1864, while they were all fighting at Drewry’s Bluff.The 96th remained with the forces besieging Richmond until the end of the war. Albert was killed in November 1864, when they returned to Fair Oaks and had 19 men who were killed or mortally wounded, 60 who were wounded, and 24 who went missing.Upon the organization of the 24th Corps, the 96th became a part of the 3rd Division and remained in the field as a veteran regiment. In December 1864, they absorbed the veterans and recruits of the 92nd NY Infantry. On March 1, 1865, before the general assault on the Petersburg works, Joseph was promoted to corporal. After the assault on April 2nd and the end of the war on April 9th, he was again promoted, this time to sergeant. On June 13, 1865, the 118th and 184th NY infantry were assigned to the 96th, and the enhanced regiment mustered put at City Point, VA, Feb. 6, 1866. The men were retained in service near Richmond to maintain order with various police and garrison duties.Joseph, however, was not with the regiment. He was injured in the leg, became a prisoner of war for 49 days, and was absent at the muster-out of his company. He returned home and started receiving an Invalid Pension in 1866. In the 1880s, became a charter member of the John McFadden Post, Number 375 of the Grand Army of the Republic in Chazy, whose descriptive book, unlike many local books, is not available.He died on November 9, 1905, and the Plattsburgh Daily Press reported, on Saturday, November 18,1905, “The remains of Joseph Brothers who died in Vermont were brought to West Chazy for burial. The funeral was held Sunday morning at R. C church. He is survived by a wife, three daughters and four sons.” He was buried in St. Joseph’s Cemetery in West Chazy. Fanny, his wife, started receiving a Widows Pension on January 25, 1906.
