GEORGE ACKERSON -- 96th INFANTRY and 13th and 3rd PROVISIONALCAVALRYJOHN ACKERSON -- 96th INFANTRY\FATHER AND SON ENLISTED IN THE 96th - When he was 42 years old, JohnAckerson enlisted in the 96th Infantry in Ellenburg. A month after hisfather enlisted, George Ackerson enlisted on Christmas Day 1861 when hewas 18 years old. The regiment mustered in Plattsburgh but didn't leavefor Washington until March 1862. Nothing was heard of George after hisinitial enlistment. John was discharged for disability at Harrison'sLanding after he had marched up the Virginia Peninsula to the outskirtsof Richmond under George McClellan and then withdrawn to the Landing. Onhis way home down the James River, John died in the Army camp inSuffolk, VA. In October 1862, John's wife, Sarah Chase, startedreceiving her Widows Pension, and later remarried after moving back toVermont.In early 1864, George enlisted in the 13th Cavalry and was with themin northern Virginia until August when he became ill and was sent tohospital. While he was still incapacitated, he was transferred to the3rd Provisional Cavalry administratively when the 13th and 16thCavalries consolidated to form the new regiment. George remained inhospital until he was mustered out on September 21, 1865, at Camp Barryin the District of Columbia. He moved to Vermont where he died, awidower, in 1904 and was buried in the Fairview Cemetery in Jericho, VT.Sadly, his stone shows the 92nd, rather than the 96th Infantry.
