CARLOS D. POOLE -- 83rd INFANTRYRETURNED TO FAMILY AFTER 5 MONTHS - When he was 35 years old, Carlos D.Poole, a laborer who was born in Washington County, NY, was drafted. Hehad grey hair, brown eyes and a dark complexion. At 5' 10" he was tallerthan the average recruit by over 2". He enlisted in Saranac on July 7,1863, and was mustered into Company G of the 83rd Infantry on the sameday, promising to serve for 3 years.The regiment needed replacement troops because, in 1862, they hadsuffered 329 casualties including 78 deaths on the battlefield, 207injuries and 45 who went missing or who were captured. Their worstbattles that year were Bull Run, Antietam and Fredericksburg. Throughoutthe whole war, the 83rd participated in 18 major battles and lost 684men who died on the field or who were mortally wounded -- in all, 2,129men cycled through the regiment.Almost as soon as he got to Carlos got to Washington, Carlos became ill.His Muster Roll Abstract shows he was in hospital in Washington inAugust and by November 16th, he had deserted.He returned to his wife, Mary Jane Bagley, and several children -- 6boys and 2 girls -- born both before and after the war, and his parentsSilas and Helen Poole, who settled in Saranac.\In 1900, Carlos was severely injured when he was kicked in the face by ahorse. At the time of his death in 1902 at 74 years old, he wassuffering from cancer of the face. He was buried in the Central Cemeteryin Jay, NY.
