EDWIN M. DAILEY -- 12th U. S. INFANTRY and 96th and 118thINFANTRYIN MANY MAJOR BATTLES IN 2 REGIMENTS - On September 27, 1861, an18-year-old laborer, Edwin M. Dailey, who was living in Clintonville,was recruited for the 12th U. S. Infantry. The regiment organized atFort Hamilton in Brooklyn and the next spring participated in thePeninsula Campaign. The 12th Infantry distinguished itself in its firstcombat action at the Battle of Gaines\' Mill in June 1862, where theysustained 50% casualties. They also fought at Antietam in July. A fewdays before the Battle of Fredericksburg, Edwin was discharged fordisability on December 1, 1862.A year later, Edwin enlisted in the 118th Infantry at Black Brook andwent to Newport News, VA, where the regiment was in winter quarterspreparing to participate in the action around Petersburg and Richmond. Athe end of January they started their march up the Virginia Peninsulaand between the beginning of May and the end of October, were in tenmajor battles in which they had over 450 casualties.Edwin missed the last battle of the year at Fair Oaks, because he hadbeen wounded in battle at Chaffin's Farm and taken down the James Riverto hospital at Fortress Monroe. While he was in hospital, he wastransferred to the 96th Infantry and was discharged from hospital onJune 14, 1865.For several years, Edwin lived in Illinois with his wife and twochildren, and by 1880, had returned to New York State to farm in St.Lawrence County.
