ALEXANDER SAWYER -- 96th and 118th INFANTRYLOST COMPANIONS AT DREWRY'S BLUFF - Alexander Sawyer was already marriedand had a child when he enlisted in the 118th Infantry on December 24,1863. He was one of 20 men who enlisted in Black Brook that December andthey joined their regiment while they were in winter quarters at NewportNews, VA.The regiment was in continuous action between March and the end ofOctober 1864 and sustained 473 casualties during that time. Most oftheir battles were in the Petersburg/Richmond area. Their bloodiestbattle was at Drewry's Bluff on the James River between May 14th and16th -- 40 killed in action and 15 mortally wounded while fighting withthe 18th Corps of the Army of the James. Two of the group with whom heenlisted were wounded here. One was wounded in the arm and the otherlost four ribs.On April 2, 1865, the 118th was at the fall of Petersburg and on June12th, Alexander was transferred to the 96th Infantry to fulfil his3-year commitment. Of the 20 who enlisted with him, only 14 weretransferred to the 96th -- 3 were wounded and 3 died. Shortly aftertransferring, Alexander was detached to the 24th Army Corps Headquarterswhere he spent the rest of his time before mustering out on January 5,1866.He returned to Black Brook and he and Amelia Amell (Hamel), his wife,had several more children. Some stayed in Clinton County; a couple wentwest to Wisconsin and others went to New England to find work in themills. Alexander's parents went west to live with one of the childrenand died out there.Alexander died on March 18, 1886, and was buried in the Holy NameCemetery in Au Sable Forks. His wife, Amelia, received her Widow'sPension starting in 1887 and received it for the next 40 years until shedied in 1926. His family ordered military headstone in 1887, is it nearhis large stone? There are still descendants of Alexander and Amelialiving in Clinton County today.
