AUGUSTUS CANTIN -- 1st ENGINEERSDISCHARGED FOR DISABILITY -- DIED THREE DAYS LATER - In 1860, AugustusCantin, a 25-year-old harness maker was living in Chazy with his sister,Julia, brother-in-law, Louis Amlaw, also a harness maker, and their sixchildren.The next year, on November 16, 1861, Augustus enlisted in the 1stEngineers in Mooers Forks with ten other men. They were all musteredinto Company I in New York City with men from Newburgh, Schuyler Falls,Goshen, Saranac, Piermorat, Plattsburgh and Ellenburg as well as MooersForks. The regiment became known as Serrell's Engineers after itscolonel, Edward W. Serrell.As soon as companies were formed, they were sent to the field. The firstfive companies went to Port Royal, SC. Companies G, H and I went to jointhe Department of the South in December and served in the southeaststates.When the regiment formed, they were told they would be getting wagesone-third higher than regular soldiers, but after they were mustered in,the Paymaster General refused the extra pay. The men refused to taketheir reduced pay and it took eight months before the order came throughto increase their pay to agreed amount.Augustus only received his pay for about three months before he wasdischarged for disability at Hilton Head, SC, on September 9, 1862.Three days later, Augustus died and was buried in a temporary gravethere. He was later reinterred in the Beaufort National Cemetery. Inall, Augustus was only in the military for 9 months and 24 days.
