JOHN TAGUE, Jr. 96th INFANTRY -- JOHN TAGUE, Sr. 9th CAVALRYFATHER AND SON ENLISTED -- Two John Tagues enlisted in the war inClinton County. John Tague, Sr., who was born in Ireland, enlisted inthe 9th Cavalry in Rouses Point at 42 years of age and spent about 15months with them. The regiment left for Washington in November of 1861,and Company M, John's company, and three other companies were detachedand distributed in detachments among the batteries of the ReserveArtillery around the capital until May 1862. They then rejoined the restof the regiment on the Virginia Peninsula and, until December rovedVirginia devoting most of their time to performing as train-guard of theArmy of the Potomac. John was discharged for disability on December 19,1862 and started receiving his pension two days later.The second John Teague, 20 years old and born in Burlington, VT,enlisted in Plattsburgh, and like his father, signed on for 3 years. Heenlisted in the 96th Infantry on March 22, 1864 and joined hisregiment while they were in camp near Petersburg after the regiment hadspent the previous 15 months on the coast of North Carolina. He wasthrown into battle in May and fought in many of the major engagements ofthe Civil War, Drewry's Bluff, Cold Harbor, Chaffin's Farm and 2ndFair Oaks, with many smaller battles in between. The 96th had over 200casualties in 1864. After the Fall of Petersburg on April 2, 1865, theregiment stayed around the city until February 1866, maintaining orderwith various police and garrison duties. They mustered out at City Pointon February 6, 1866.John, Jr. returned home. He and is wife, Margaret, and family lived andworked in the mills in Cohoes. In 1905, he is enumerated as being awatchman in the streets of the city. He died in February 1919 and wasburied in St. Agnes' Cemetery at 71 years of age. Left to mourn him werehis wife, nine daughters and one son. John Tague III was born in 1883,but sadly died in 1901.
