ELIHU WILSON34th INFANTRY, 16th ARTILLERY, 1st MOUNTED RIFLES, 4th PROVISIONAL CAVALRY4 REGIMENTS IN 4 YEARS - Elihu Wilson was born in Chazy, to William and Jane Wilson. He was working as a laborer when he enlisted in the 34th Infantry in Champlain on May 22, 1861. He remained with the 34th until his 2-year term was up and he mustered out in Albany on June 30, 1863. During his time with the regiment, he'd been at Fair Oaks, the Seven Days' Battles, Crampton's Pass, Antietam, Fredericksburg and Marye's Heights and Salem Church, among others.# A quote from the book, The Honors of the Empire State in the War of the Rebellion, illustrated their bravery in battle - "At the battle of Fair Oaks the regiment formed part of Gorman\'s brigade of Sedgwick\'s division. The Rebels charged upon our column, and the main strength of the charge fell upon the 34th. Nobly did they sustain the reputation of their State. Firm as a rock stood they against the advancing enemy. At the battle of Antietam. the regiment maintained their well-earned laurels, but lost heavily in officers and men." At the latter battle, they sustained 154 casualties.Even though he had been in many terrible battles, he enlisted again. This time in the newly-formed 16th Heavy Artillery on December 23, 1863 at Fort Ann, NY, and gave his occupation as machinist. By May 1864, without ever being in the field with the heavy artillery, he was transferred to the 1st Mounted Rifles and spent the rest of the year in the Petersburg area. From February 5, 1865 to April 17th, the regiment was back and forth from Virginia to North Carolina. On September 6, 1865, due to the consolidation of regiments, he was transferred again, this time to the 4th Provisional Cavalry. He mustered out with his company on November 29, 1865 and came home to Champlain.In 1883 Elihu started receiving his Invalids Pension and by 1889, he died before he was 50 years old in Saratoga Springs. His widow, Catherine, applied for her pension in June, the month after he died.
