AMOS and WILLIAM PERSONS -- 142nd INFANTRYTWO DISTANT COUSINS AT SECOND SURRENDER - In September 1864, two cousinswith ties on both sides of the border enlisted in the 142nd Infantry.Amos Persons, who was living in Horicon in Warren County at the time got\$900 for his enlistment. William Persons got \$600 from the Town ofChesterfield.By the time the men got to Virginia, the regiment had sustained over 300casualties and was badly in need of replacements. During their stay inSouth Carolina the year before, they had lost no men in the field. Amosand William arrived in time for the Battle of Darbytown Road at the endof October.In December, the 142nd was sent to Fort Fisher in North Carolina andhad 99 casualties there in two assaults. They remained in that state forthe rest of the war. On March 1, 1865, they joined the Campaign of theCarolinas under General Sherman and were at the Second Surrender onApril 26th when General Johnston surrendered to Sherman at the BennettPlace. The men were mustered out with their companies -- Amos withCompany C and William with Company H - on June 7th at Raleigh, NC.Amos returned to Horicon, married Mariette Smith and had severalchildren, the last of whom was born in 1889 and died in 1951. Hisparents came from Canada to live with them on the farm. He died in 1915and was buried in the Brant Lake Cemetery beside his wife.William went back to his wife who was living in Schroon Lake with theirchildren. When his father died, he went back to Quebec and farmed inEast Farnham for the rest of his life. He died in 1886 and was buried inthe Friends Cemetery in Brigham, Quebec a few miles west of his farm.His wife, Permelia, died in 1917.
