EDWARD and THOMAS PERKETT -- 2ndVETERAN CAVALRYBROTHERS FOUGHT TOGETHER - Francois Paquet and Clare Monet brought theirfirst seven children from La Prairie, Quebec, to the Clintonville areato work in the mining industry. Two of their sons who were born shortlyafter they arrived in Clinton County enlisted on October 8, 1863, inKeeseville.They joined the 2nd Veteran Cavalry recruited from counties in easternNew York and were both assigned to Company I in Saratoga where they wereorganizing. By December 1863, all twelve companies had gathered inWashington preparing to go to New Orleans to join the Department of theGulf and spend the rest of their service in the South.They took part in Banks\' Red River Campaign and were in action 18times. After the end of the campaign in May, they were in various raidsand scouting expeditions along the Mississippi in Louisiana untilDecember 1864. In early 1865, the regiment crossed into Mississippi andfought in Alabama then around the Pensacola area in Florida. Their lastengagement was on April 12, 1865, at Whistler's Station on the outskirtsof Pensacola.The regiment was mustered out and discharged at Talladega, AL, onNovember 8, 1865, having lost 5 officers and 30 men killed and mortallywounded; 3 officers and 215 men died of disease and other causes, theheavy mortality from disease being due to the long service of theregiment in the South. It lost in addition a number of men by thefoundering of the steamer North America off the coast of Georgia inDecember1864.The brothers returned to New York and both worked in the miningindustry. Edward died in 1921 and was buried in the Calvary Cemetery inWillsboro. Thomas died in Fair Haven, VT, in 1913 where he had gone tolive with his son. He is buried in the St. Mary's Cemetery there.
