GEORGE W. and THOMAS AVERY -- 96th and 118th INFANTRYFATHER AND SON GO TO WAR -- ONLY ONERETURNS - An 18-year-old teamster, 5' 3½" tall, enlisted in the 118thInfantry in Beekmantown. He was mustered into Company E on December 28,1863, to serve for 3 years. His name was George W. Avery, and he was oneof 9 men from the Beekmantown area who joined the regiment thatDecember. His 45-year-old father, Thomas Avery, enlisted in the sameregiment, a week before, and was also assigned to Company E. Nineteenmen from Black Brook enlisted with Thomas.The men were needed as replacement troops because so many from the118th had died of disease or been discharged for disability. Theircasualties up until that time had been minimal -- only 11. In January1864, the 118th were with the Department of Virginia and NorthCarolina, and their first engagement after winter quarters was atBallyhack, VA, on March 9th.Within 2 months, the regiment was engaged in the Operations beforePetersburg and Richmond. On May 4th to the 6th, they were on atransport up the James River and landed at Bermuda Hundred, then marchedover to Point of Rocks on the Appomattox. Two days later they engagedthe enemy near Port Walthal then rested in the intrenchments near Pointof Rocks. They fought and skirmished along the Petersburg Pike and onthe 15th were left holding the captured works at Fort Darling nearDrewry's Bluff. On May 16, the second day of the Battle Drewry's Bluff,George was killed in action along with 31 others from his regiment. Manyothers died later of their wound, were injured or were captured or wentmissing.George's father, Thomas, continued with the regiment, and in February1865, was on detached service at the base hospital. In June 1865, he wastransferred to the 96th Infantry with other men from the 118th whowere not due to be discharged and mustered out in February 1866.An article in the Plattsburgh Sentinel of 1874, gives an insight intothe death of Thomas."Last Sabbath evening, Ref. Father Glynn of Keeseville, preached apowerful sermon on temperance, in the Roman Catholic Church atClintonville, improving the occasion of the sudden and melancholy deathof Thomas Avery of that place, which was caused or hastened by a drunkenrow in which a son and son-in-law were engaged. The Methodist Society,at the earnest solicitation of its pastor, attended the services almostuniversally, and the church was densely crowded. At the close of thesermon, 50 members of Father Glynn's congregation at Clintonville signedthe total abstinence pledge."
