FRANKLIN ELBRIDGE TOWN -- 96th and 118th INFANTRYWENT TO WAR THEN STRAIGHT TO MINNESOTA - In 1860, Franklin Elbridge Townwho was born in Franklin, NY, to Edmund Town and Betsey Lyon, was livingon his parents' farm with his five brothers and sisters. Three yearslater, he enlisted in the 118th Infantry credited to Beekmantown. OnDecember 23, 1863, he was mustered into Company C. He met up with hisregiment while they were in winter quarters at Newport News, VA.Frank was with the 118th until June 13, 1865, when he was transferredto the 96th Infantry in the field to fulfil his 3-year obligation. Hespent 1865 in the Petersburg area and in the battles of Drewry's Bluff,Bermuda Hundred and Cold Harbor, among other engagements with the Armyof the James. On September 28, 1864, they marched to Corps Headquarters,turned in their old Enfields and were supplied with new Spencerseven-shooting rifles. They were the first infantry regiment to receivethem.The next day they were at Chaffin's Farm and at the end of October wereat Fair Oaks. During 1864, the regiment received 473 casualties. Theirworst battle was at Drewry's Bluff where 40 men were killed in action.On April 2, 1865, they were at the Fall of Petersburg. In June the3-year men of the 118th and 184th who hadn't served their threeyears were transferred to the 96th Infantry.Franklin spent June of 1865 in the hospital but rallied and spent mostof the rest of the year doing necessary provost and garrison dutiesaround Richmond. On December 22nd he was sent to hospital inLynchburg, VA, and missed the muster-out of his regiment.When he was released from hospital, he went to Shell Rock County in thesouthwest corner of Minnesota. He married and farmed in Tekamah, NB,about 250 miles southwest of Shell Rock County. His wife died and whenhe became ill, he ended up in the Old Soldiers Home in Hot Spring, SD,in 1915. His son, George, in Tekamah was noted on the Home's records asnext of kin.Between 1915 and 1923, when he died, his pension was increased from \$12to \$23 a month. Franklin died on January 9, 1923 and his cause of deathwas reported as toxemia caused by facial erysipelas aggravated by hisgeneral senility. He was buried in the Hot Springs National Cemeteryadjacent to the Home.
