ARTEMUS S. FAY – 96th INFANTRYARTEMUS W. FAY – 118th INFANTRYONE ARTEMUS TOOK HIS WIFE TO WAR - Believe it or not, there were 2 Artemus Fays in the Union Army from the local area. Artamus S. Fay, born in Black Brook, enlisted in December 20, 1861, in Peru. He was mustered into Company C of the 96th Infantry on December 23rd and expected to serve for 3 years. Before he re-enlisted on January 24, 1864, in Coinjock, NC, he had been at the Siege of Yorktown, Fair Oaks, the Seven Days’ Battles, the Expedition from New Berne to Goldsboro, and several other battles in Virginia and North Carolina. Until January 1864, the 96th had about 160 casualties, mostly from being captured by the enemy.After January 1864, the regiment remained in Virginia and the 50 miles of trenches around Petersburg and Richmond. During the last 14 months of engagements, they saw the most blood and had 70 who were killed, about 150 injured and another 30 who were captured or went missing.Artemus came home and married Phebe Roxana Bliss and they had 5 children before he was drowned on June 23, 1886, in Lake Placid while helping build the Stevens House. He and his wife are buried in the North Elba Cemetery.The other Artemus, Artemas W., took his wife, Delia, with him to war with the 118th Infantry. In the history of the 118th, the author, John Cunningham writes, “We found with us at Whitehall, Mrs. Fay, the bright, young and fair bride of a sergeant of Company C, who resolved to continue with her husband as long and as much as possible, and we all helped her purpose. She remained through the years, in camps and, often, on our marches. In times of war activity, she rendered helpful service in the hospitals, especially to men of our regiment. She had our respect all through and deserved it." She was offered a commission as major but turned it down. Both are buried in the Mountain View Cemetery in Upper Jay. Artemus died in 1907.You can read more about Artemas and Delia on page 718 of, "The History of Essex County", by H. P. Smith, at: https://archive.org/stream/cu31924028853392...
