FELIX DESILETS -- 5th CAVALRYSTARTED AND ENDED HIS SERVICE IN HOSPITAL - Due to lack of knowledge ofthe French language and transcription errors, Felix Desilets wasmustered into the 5th Cavalry as Felix Desisclitz while he was livingin Champlain. He got a town bounty of \$200 for signing up. Afterenlisting in December 1863, the Quebec-born Felix met up with hisregiment while they were in winter quarters in Virginia.Their first major battle of 1864 was at South Anna Bridge in March andthen they went on to The Wilderness and Spotsylvania Court House in May.But it's doubtful that Felix was with them because he was absent and inhospital. He did join them later and they patrolled, reconnoitered, andraided in northern Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley until again goinginto winter quarters in mid-December. While on the march, there was notmuch forage or oats for the horses, and they became weak. According toLouis Boudrye, the regiments historian, "these 'played=out' horses wereinvariably shot, lest they might fall into the hands of the enemy, andin a few weeks of good care, become serviceable."Starting on January 10, 1865, the 5th Cavalry was again in the fieldin the Shenandoah Valley, and, after five engagements, they weremustered out at Winchester, WV. Felix was not with them, however. He wasin hospital in Washington after being wounded.On May 3, 1865, he was discharged for disability under General Order 77of the War Department. The order was given to empty the militaryhospitals -- if a man was well enough to travel -- he should go home.
