CHARLES EGGSWARE – 153rd INFANTRYGRAND REVIEW AND 1913 REUNION - Charles Eggsware, born in Champlain, the son of Thomas Eggsware and Elizabeth Duvernay or Lavarnway, both enlisted and was mustered into the 153rd Infantry in Plattsburgh on the same day – December 29, 1853. He and 9 other men enlisted in Plattsburgh that December for town bounties of $200. All but one of them returned home – John Vincent who died at Morganza, LA.In 1863, the 153rd had duties around the capitol with the Military District of Washington and Department of Washington. Charles joined the regiment just before they were transferred to the Department of the Gulf and the Red River Campaign in Louisiana.The regiment was only in Louisiana from March to May 1864 and was in 3 engagements. During their second battle that took place at Pleasant Hill on April 9th, they had 4 killed or mortally wounded, 24 wounded and 4 who went missing. By July, they were back in the Washington area protecting the city from General Jubal Early and his men. In September and October, two of the worst battles were at Opequan and Cedar Creek where, in total, they had 34 killed or mortally wounded, 105 wounded and 10 who went missing, before they went into winter quarters.While in winter quarters, Charles was detached for service at Divisional Headquarters of the Army of the Shenandoah until April. The 153rd remained in the Shenandoah Valley with the Army of the Shenandoah until April 1865, when, with Dwight's Division they moved to Washington again with the Department of Washington.On May 23, 1865, led by General George Meade, the Army of the Potomac and allied armies were in the Grand Review and Charles with 80,000 other men paraded 12 abreast from the Capitol down Pennsylvania Avenue. In July, the 153rd sailed to Savannah, GA, for additional guard and provost duties. Charles and the rest of the regiment were mustered out on October 2, 1865.After returning home, Charles married Mary Bolea, who died in 1911. Two years later, he remarried.1913 was a good year for Charles. On February 1, 1913, he married Lillie Dominic when he was 66 and she was she was 27. Later in the year, Charles and 4 of his local G. A. R. comrades, William Holden (96th NY Infantry), Merrill B. Hammond (153rd NY Infantry), William Matthews (4th VT Infantry) and Henry S. Rowell (1st NY Artillery) were given free transportation to the week-long 1913 Gettysburg Reunion. Of the 5, only Henry Rowell was actually in the battle. The reunion of soldiers from the North and South took place from Jun 29 to July 4, 1913.In 1923, five years before his death, Charles’ Civil War pension was raised to $72 a month. The Malone Farmer of July 11, 1928, carried this notice, “Charles Eggsware, the last surviving veteran of the Civil War, residing in Ellenburg, passed away on Tuesday night at his home in Ellenburg Center, at the age of 82 years. He was a member of the Admiral T. Bailey Post, G. A. R. of Chateaugay. Funeral services were held Friday morning at St. Edmund’s Church at Ellenburg Corners.” He was the last surviving Civil War soldier in the Town of Ellenburg. He was buried in St. Edmund’s Cemetery.This booklet, complete with pictures and forms that were to be completed by veterans, was published by the State of New York for the men who attended the 1913 commemorations.
