CHARLES H. CLAY -- 96th INFANTRYHIS WOUND NEVER HEALED - In 1860, Charles H. Clay was living on a farmin West Beekmantown with his parents, William and Esther Clay. TheOctober of 1861, Charles was mustered into Captain Nicholas Day'sCompany H of the 96th Infantry which formed in Plattsburgh. He and 70privates with their officers, sergeants and corporals made up thecompany of 86 men. The regiment left for Washington by train in March of1862.As soon as the 96rh got to the capital, they were transported to theSiege of Yorktown by ship before fighting northward on the VirginiaPeninsula. At the conclusion of the Seven Days' Battles in July, theyjoined the XVIII Corps and embarked on the Expedition from New Berne toGoldsboro in North Carolina. Charles re-enlisted Coinjock, NC, onJanuary 1, 1864.The 18th corps was transferred to the Army of the James in April 1864.During May the 96th was present at Swift Creek, Proctor\'s Creek,Drewry's Bluff and Bermuda Hundred, and joined the Army of the Potomacat Cold Harbor at the beginning of that battle on June 1st. On June3rd, at Cold Harbor, Charles was shot in both legs and spent the restof the war in hospital. He was discharged for disability in Philadelphiaafter 3 years, 7 months and 20 days in the military.Charles returned to the Plattsburgh area then moved to Vermont, hisfather's birthplace, and married Mary Holihan in 1868. He supported themby working as a harness maker. Toward the end of his life, Charles spentmany years in veterans hospitals because of the wounds he had receivedat Cold Harbor, one of which in the left knee never fully healed.After Mary's death in 1911, Charles married Ruth Ann Stearns and it wasshe who received his pension when he died in 1925.The Rutland Daily Herald carried his death notice on August 8. 1825 --"Charles H. Clay, 81, a veteran of the Civil War, died at his homeyesterday afternoon. The funeral will be held tomorrow afternoon at 2:30o'clock and burial will take place Monday at Waitsfield. Mr. Clay's wifesurvives him. Mr. Clay was a member of the Army of the Potomac andserved four years during the Civil War. He was wounded at the Battle ofCold Harbor and was lame the remainder of his life. Mr. Clay had beenengaged in the harness business at Waitsfield, but he retired some yearsago."
