AMHERST D. TENNANT -- 16th NY INFANTRY and 4th MA CAVALRYFOUGHT FOR NEW YORK AND MASSACHUSETTS - Amherst D. Tennant was in hismid-thirties when he enlisted in the 16th Infantry in Dannemora. Hewas mustered into Captain Frank Palmer's Company C as the 1st sergeanton May 15, 1861. Of the fourteen men who enlisted with him in Dannemora,ten were assigned to Palmer's company. Amherst was one of foursergeants, the oldest was forty and the youngest nineteen.After leaving for Washington at the end of June, the regiment had theirfirst battle at Fairfax Court House on July 17th and stayed in northernVirginia for the rest of the year. In 1862, their most deadly battle wasat Gaines' Mill on June 27th where they suffered 231 casualties. Uponcompleting the Seven Days' Battles in early July, they didn't fightagain until they were at Crampton's Pass in Maryland on their way toAntietam. Here they had 63 more casualties as part of the advance onSouth Mountain, but they were held in reserve at Antietam on September17th.While the 16th was in camp recovering from a summer of hard fighting,Amherst was discharged for disability on October 16, 1862.He came home to Clinton County then moved to Canton, MA where he workedas a clerk. In February 1864, he enlisted in the 4th MA Cavalry as itwas forming. At first, they were sent to Florida but soon were sent tothe Petersburg battlefield. Amherst was either injured or became ill andwas sent to Fortress Monroe at the mouth of the James River. He diedthere on September 15, 1863.Amherst was buried near the hospital, but was later moved to thecemetery in Hampton, VA, which became the Hampton National Cemetery. Heis one of eleven men who enlisted in Clinton County we have found so farthat are buried in this cemetery.
