JOHN BRENTON -- 22nd INFANTRY and 2nd VETERAN CAVALRYSERVED 3 YEARS 11 MONTHS AND 28 DAYS - A young Irishman, John Brereton,enlisted in the 22nd Infantry in Keeseville on May 7, 1861. He wasmustered into Captain Oliver Peabody's Company C a month later in Troy,NY. He was with the regiment for the full two years he signed up for andfought on the Virginia Peninsula, in the Maryland Campaign at Antietam,and then Fredericksburg and the Chancellorsville Campaign. He musteredout in Albany in June 1863.John returned to Clinton County and, a few months later, enlisted in the2nd Veteran Cavalry two days before Christmas in 1863. For the nexttwo years, he was in Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, and Alabama andwas in over 50 engagements. By March 1864, they were part of the RedRiver Campaign. On April 4th, they had their most bloody battle atCampti, LA, and 2 days later, they were at Pleasant Hill. At PleasantHill, Captain Becker of Company I was shot through the neck, had thewound dressed and was back in the saddle for the rest of the battle.During this engagement, they had one man mortally wounded, 5 injured and4 captured by the enemy. From March until early December, the regimentwas in 40+ engagements.They were in Florida and Alabama starting in March 1865, and their lastbattle was at Whistler's Station, AL, 3 days after Lee surrendered toGrant on April 9, 1865. John mustered out with his company at Talladega,AL on November 8, 1865.John came back to Franklin County to farm. In 1879, he started receivingan Invalids Pension and in 1890, we find him living in Harrietstown inFranklin County.
