FRANKLIN NORCROSS -- 16th, 83rd and 97th INFANTRYHARD LIFE FOR MRS. NORCROSS - Franklin Norcross, born in 1843, was 18years old when he enlisted in his first regiment -- the 16th Infantryin September 1861. He was the son of Stephen Norcross, who died within afew months of Franklin's birth, and his wife, Rebecca. Stephen'sobituary in the Plattsburgh Sentinel on November 18th of that yearread, "In Saranac, on the 12th inst., Mr. Stephen Norcross, in the45th year of his age. Mr. Norcross was well-known to our citizens. Hewas for some years, rather dissipated; but about eighteen months sincehe joined the "Washingtonians" (a temperance organization) -- kept hispledge strictly -- joined the Church, and lived as a Christian shouldlive, till it pleased God to call him hence. He met death with calmnessand perfect resignation." He was buried in the Riverside Cemetery inPlattsburgh.Frank enlisted to serve for two years with the 16th Infantry, but,according to the history of the regiment, "From Bull Run toChancellorsville," he was one of 173 men who were injured at Gaines'Mill on June 27, 1862, and was discharged for disability.A year later, on July 7, 1863, Frank enlisted in the 83rd Infantry asa substitute for Charles DeFerris. He was one of the men needed to fillthe ranks of the regiment after they sustained 114 casualties atGettysburg. He stayed with the 83rd until they finished their threeyears of service after the Battle of Cold Harbor in June 1864, and wastransferred with the 3-year men, to the 97th Infantry while they werestill on the battlefield with his former regiment.The 97th stayed in the Petersburg area and during the heavy fightingthat was to follow, was captured at the Second Battle of Weldon Railroadon August 19, 1864, and was finally paroled in April 1865 to recuperateat Camp Parole at Annapolis, MD.Frank died shortly after the war and his mother applied for a pensionbased on his service in 1866. She was buried in the Cadyville ProtestantCemetery in 1877.
