JOHN GODFREY BARNUM -- 5th CAVALRYFOUR MONTHS IN VIRGINIA - In March 1865, 51 men from Clinton and EssexCounties were mustered in in Plattsburgh and sent to the ShenandoahValley to perform clean up operations with the 5th Cavalry. Theregiment had their last engagement in the field at Rude's Hill in thenorthern Valley on March 7th but it wasn't until March 9th that17-year-old John Godfrey Barnum enlisted under the name of GodfreyBarnum, Jr.When John and the other new recruits got to Virginia, the regiment wasdealing with hundreds of Rebel deserters that were daily coming to the5th's camp in Winchester to surrender. They were also taking care ofthe battle-worn horses.On March 29th the regiment was reviewed by Generals Torbert andHancock who complimented the men on their drill. A few days later, theyreceived telegrams of the Fall of Richmond and celebrated withfireworks. The regiment paraded through the streets of Winchester tocelebrate the surrender of Lee on April 9th and were saddened to hearof Lincoln's death on April 15th.At the end of the month, they broke up their camp in Winchester and werestill receiving Rebel guerillas for surrender. On April 29th, theyfired a salute to celebrate the surrender of General Johnston. A fewdays later, they began their week-long ride to Staunton still parolingthe Rebel soldiers who had surrendered. At the end of the month, withtwo days' rations they set out to capture ex-governor Letcher ofVirginia and that was the last of their official duties. The regimentgrew bored and, after their regular camp duties then had nothing to filltheir days except sightseeing tours organized by the officers beforetheir muster out. The 3-year men left on June 9th and, after ridingback to Winchester from Staunton, a distance of 95 miles, Godfrey wasmustered out on July 19, 1865.He returned to Ticonderoga where he was born.The Ticonderoga Sentinel of October 1, 1896, carried his obituary --"John G. Barnum in the forty-seventh year of his age at his home inSouth Ticonderoga. Sept. seventh. In his family be was a devotedhusband, a kind and affectionate brother and a dutiful son. He leaves awidow, brothers, sister and widowed mother to mourn his loss. Words ofcomfort were spoken by Rev. H. W. Hewitt of Rutland assisted by Rev.Joseph Dunn of Hague. A large concourse of friends and relativesfollowed his remains to its last resting place in the Valley ViewCemetery. May Heaven\'s richest blessing fall on those that are left tomourn."
