JOHN DOUGLAS -- 16th INFANTRYAT THE DUNKER CHURCH AT ANTIETAM - The 16th New York Infantry Regimentmustered in for two years' service under Colonel Thomas A. Davies, whograduated West Point in the Class of 1829, with Robert E. Lee.John Douglas, a 23-year old teamster, enlisted in the regiment in August1862, so the regiment could fill out their ranks after sustaining 231casualties at Gaines' Mill on June 27th. He arrived in Virginia withGeneral Frankin's VI Corps in time to join the Maryland Campaign andSouth Mountain where they had 63 casualties at Crampton's Pass. They gotto the battlefield at Antietam around noon by way of Keadysville onSeptember 17th and took up a position near the Dunker Church. Althoughthey were not engaged, they had three men shot by sharpshooters, onemortally.By December, the 16th had marched over a hundred miles and been inseveral engagements before arriving just north of Fredericksburg, VA.The regiment crossed on the pontoon bridges downstream from the city andtook position to the left of General Meade but was not engaged and hadno casualties. Coming out of winter quarters in early May 1863, the2-year regiment concluded their service with 154 casualties at SalemChurch and Marye's Heights.About eight months later, on January 1, 1864, John enlisted again for atown and county bounties of \$200 each, but, by May 4, 1865, he waslisted as a deserted in Plattsburgh.He later moved to Colton in St. Lawrence County to farm. John died athis sister's home there in 1922 and was buried in the Pleasant MoundCemetery.
