HENRY E. BISSELL -- 16th INFANTRYIN THE MILITARY FOR 27 DAYS - In the 1860 Census, Henry E. Bissell isenumerated as a 23-year-old wharfinger, or a person who owns or looksafter a wharf. He was living in the Town of Peru near Valcour on LakeChamplain. His parents were farmers in Peru, Mumford R. Bissell andFrances Page.Two years after the census was taken, Henry enlisted in the 16thInfantry in Plattsburgh on August 18, 1862. He was recorded as Bipell,due to an error in transcription. The regiment was formed in May 1861and had been in eleven engagements by the time Henry joined them.In May 1862, they had 17 casualties during their first battle of theyear at West Point, VA. By July 27th, in the first of the Seven Days'Battles at Gaines' Mill, the regiment received 231 casualties.Henry was one of the soldiers recruited to be a replacement for the menlost in the field and those missing by disease, desertion anddisability. He arrived after the Seven Days' Battles.As part of the Army of the Potomac, the 16th was assigned to travel toAntietam, MD, by way of South Mountain. On September 14th, less than amonth after his enlistment, Henry was killed at South Mountain, one of18 men killed in his regiment. Another 8 men were mortally wounded, and37 men were wounded. Henry was buried in the field.Later, when the Antietam National Cemetery was commissioned in 1865,Henry was reinterred. In October 1862. Henry's widow, Elizabeth, appliedfor and started receiving a Widow's Pension.
