ANTOINE BEAUVOL – 83rd and 97th INFANTRYENLISTED AT 14 YEARS OLD - Antoine Beauvol and his wife, Flavie Lamoureux emigrated from Quebec, where they were married in 1845 in St. Valentin, just north of LaColle. After the death of two children, they decided to come to the United States and settle in Beekmantown in the late 1840s.By the time the Civil War began they had a son and three daughters in the household. Antoine, their only son, was drafted and mustered into the 83rd Infantry in Plattsburgh as a substitute in July 1863. On the Muster Roll, he was recorded as Antonia Bouvalls.He and about a hundred other men were needed to replenish the 83rd’s numbers after receiving 83 casualties at Gettysburg. Their numbers had been sadly diminished the fall of 1862 when they had almost 250 casualties at Antietam and Fredericksburg.The regiment had only a few months to serve when Antoine joined them to serve his 3-year term. He saw no heavy fighting until the spring of 1864. They had spent their winter at Brandy Station about 30 miles northwest of Fredericksburg, and after marching 20 miles southward, were in place for the Battle of The Wilderness by May 5th. They suffered 115 casualties during the 3-day battle. After a further fifteen-mile march they were at Spotsylvania Court House where they had 128 more casualties over the next four days. The 83rd was mustered out on June 23, 1864, but before they left the field, they transferred all the men who still had time to serve to the 97th Infantry while they were on the Cold Harbor battlefield.Antoine was recorded as Antonio Bouvalls and survived the heavy fighting before Petersburg before partaking in the Appomattox Campaign. When Lee surrendered, the 97th spent three more months in Virginia and were mustered out from their camp in the field.The 1865 Beekmantown Town Clerk’s Record says, “Do not know what has become of him.” It looks like Antoine changed his name and went to western Pennsylvania. The name he chose was Charles A. Rugar. He married Catherine Gray in Pennsylvania and raised a family.The Titusville Herald of January 23, 1920, carried this death notice – Trimms, Jan. 22 – Charles H. Rugar, aged 72 years and 2 months, died at his home here on Thursday, Jan. 15, at 9:30 am, after an illness of several months. Mr. Rugar was a veteran of the Civil War, having enlisted when but 14 years of age. He was a man of cheerful disposition, with always a laugh and joke and will be missed by all who knew him. He is survived by his wife, three sons, Frank, William and Wayne of this place, one daughter, Grace of California, also twelve grandchildren. The funeral was held at Trimms schoolhouse Saturday at 2 o’clock, conducted by Rev. McMitt of East Branch. Interment in East Branch Cemetery. Those from a distance were Andrew Gray of Youngsville, Mrs. Eva Gray and Mr. and Mrs. Edward Besanson of Cambridge Springs, Ernest Eastman and sister, Lela, of Union City, and Mr. and Mrs. William Bloss of Corry.”A son, Wayne Antwine Rugar, a more handsome version of his father with his thick, dark hair, died in California in 1976.
