EDWIN OSCAR ABBOTT -- 2nd CAVALRYFOUGHT UNDER GRANT AND SHERIDAN - EdwinOscar Abbott, who was born in Vermont to John and Sophronia Abbott,tried farming in Arapahoe County, KS, for a while before he came backeast. He was working as a bloomer when he was drafted in 1864, and forhis enlistment in the 2nd Cavalry on August 24th, he received a countybounty of \$300. Edwin and about 125 other men from the Plattsburgh areaenlisted in late August and September and most were assigned to CompanyE. It was the third round of enlistment for the 2nd Cavalry inPlattsburgh. The first was in 1861 and more men enlisted in 1862.Between March and the beginning of August 1864, the regiment hadsuffered almost 200 casualties in northeast Virginia and needed aninfusion of new recruits. Edwin was in about 25 engagements with theArmy of the Shenandoah under General Philip Sheridan before the end ofthe year including Opequan and Cedar Creek. During that time, there were60+ more casualties including 3 from the group with whom Edwin came toVirginia -- 1 captured and two wounded in battle.Between March 2, 1865, and the time of Lee's surrender on April 9th, the2nd Cavalry sustained almost 60 more casualties while chasing theConfederates in the Appomattox Campaign with the Army of the Potomacunder General Grant. Companies E, F, G, H, I and K were mustered out onJune 5, 1865, in Alexandria, VA. The rest of the regiment mustered out 2weeks later. Edwin had 10 months and 19 days of service when he musteredout.He returned to his wife, Sarah Ann Floyd, who he had married in 1850 andthree children, mother-in-law and sister-in-law who were all livingtogether in the Town of Chesterfield. Another child, Hattie, was born in1867 and she lived until 1961.The 1890 Veterans Schedules show him living in Wells in Hamilton County,NY. The record shows he had been thrown from a horse and injured. Hecontinued to farm in Wells until late in life. Sarah died in 1913 and hedied three years later. Both are buried in the Wells Cemetery.
