ALEXANDER BLAKE – 96th INFANTRYDIED YOUNG - Alexander Blake enlisted in the 96th Infantry in Plattsburgh while he was living in Black Brook. He was a collier, the son of farmers, William and Theresa or Thirza Blake, and was 18-years-old when he enlisted on December 18, 1861. Alex and over 100 men enlisted that fall and winter and left for Washington on March 11, 1862.He was discharged on account of sickness at some point during his army career but re-enlisted in the 142nd Infantry on September 7, 1864, for a town bounty of $300. The regiment arrived in time for the Battle at Chaffin’s Farm, Darbytown Road and the assaults on Fort Fisher on the North Carolina coast sustaining almost 300 casualties.While they were in North Carolina, the 142nd joined Sherman’s Campaign of the Carolinas and ended up at the Bennett Farm and the surrender of General Johnston on April 26, 1865. See some interesting pictures of the Bennet Place through the years at: http://www.opendurham.org/buildings/bennett-placeAbout 3 weeks later, Alex was mustered out a Norfolk, VA, and returned home to Black Brook. As soon as he got home, he married Harriet P. Pickett, and they had two sons, Lewis and Fred. In 1870 he was farming on about 50 acres there.Unfortunately, Alex became ill and he died on April 22, 1877, at 33 years old and was buried in the Old Catholic Cemetery on U. S. Avenue by the Old Base in Plattsburgh.
