JOSEPH H., LEVI W. and RANSOM B. NICHOLS -- 96th INFANTRYONLY ONE MUSTERED OUT IN 1865 - At the end of October in 1861, Ransom B.Nichols enlisted in 96th Infantry when he was 18 years old. He wasassigned to Captain Joseph H. Nichols' Company C. Joseph happened to beRansom's 46-year-old father, who also recruited another close relative,21-year-old Levi W. Nichols. Both of the younger men were mustered in assergeants. Companies B, C, D, and K were all recruited in thePlattsburgh area.The 96th Infantry left from Plattsburgh, where they organized, to goto Washington in March 1862 and joined the Army of the Potomac. Theywere put on vessels to sail to Hampton, VA, and then on to the Siege ofYorktown. From May to July, the 96th fought on the Peninsula and inOctober, were sent to North Carolina in October to guard the coast.In November 1862, Ransom was returned to ranks before the regiment wentto North Carolina. In the same month, Levi was discharged so that hecould join the 4th U. S. Artillery in Suffolk, VA.In January 1864, while they were still inwinter quarters and before the regiment was sent to thePetersburg/Richmond battlefield with the Army of the James, Josephresigned his commission at New Berne, NC, and went home.Ransom continued with the regiment through the year of heavy fighting in1864. Starting in January 1865, he was assigned as an orderly in thehospital at Fort Monroe. He was discharged on August 31, 1865.Joseph only lived for a year or so after he returned home. He died onJune 11, 1865, and was buried in the Peru Cemetery. Ransom moved toMichigan and died in his 50s like his father. He is buried in theBronson Cemetery in Bronson, MI, on the southern border of Michigan.Levi also moved to Michigan and joined the 30th Michigan Infantry.After spending about 10 years in the Grand Rapids Veterans Home, he wasreleased in 1920 and went to live with his son. He was in and out of thehospital until he died in 1928 and was buried in the cemetery attachedto the Home.
