CHRISTOPHER SOULIA -- 1st ENGINEERSSIGNED UP FOR 36 MONTHS -- ONLY HAD TO SERVE 18 - Christopher Souliajoined the 1st Engineers, or Serrell's Engineers, on January 4, 1864.two years after the regiment formed. He was born in St. Hyacinthe,Quebec, in 1828, to André Soulière and Julia Brousseau, and was just oneof their sons who enlisted in the Civil War. For his enlistment, hereceived \$200.The 1st Engineers were on the South Carolina coast for its first 2 yearsof service, but, in 1864, 8 of the 12 companies were sent to theRichmond/Petersburg area to support operations with the Army of theJames. It was there that Christopher first joined the regiment. Becauseof his age and experience, he was soon appointed to be an artificer withhis own team of men. The companies remained in Virginia to sustain thetroops in their actions at Petersburg, Richmond, Bermuda Hundred,Chaffin's Farm and other venues for the rest of the war. On June 30,1865, he was mustered out at Richmond, VA.\Christopher returned home to his wife, Matilda Noel, who he had marriedabout 1849, and seven of his nine children. Two more were born after thewar. Christopher continued to work on farms for the rest of his life.Whenthe Charles H. Bentley G. A. R. Post formed in Schuyler Falls in 1892,he was a charter member. His name is 5th on the first page and he heldseveral offices. In December 1892, he was elected to be Junior VicePresident.The June 15, 1917 issue of the Plattsburgh Sentinel carried his deathnotice -- "SOULIA -- In Peru, NY, Wednesday June 13th, 1917, ChristopherSoulia, aged 80 years. Funeral from St. Augustine's R. C. Church, Peru,NY, Saturday morning, June 16th."There are many of Christopher and Matilda's descendants in ClintonCounty today, members of the Soulia, Rivers, Dudley and Bisonnettefamilies to name a few. Share this post with them.\You have to LOVE this picture of Christopher.
