LEWIS SAVAGE -- 16th CAVALRY and 3rdPROVISIONAL CAVALRYONE OF LINCOLN'S AVENGERS - Lewis Savage was 18 years old when heenlisted in the 16th cavalry on February 26, 1863, in Plattsburgh. Hisparents were Francis Savage and Julie Snay.\The only comment in the remarks section of the Saranac Town Clerk'sRecord of 1865, says, "At the capture of Booth the assassin, May 26,1865. Still in service."The 16th Cavalry started recruiting in early 1863, and Lewis wasmustered into Company A on March 3rd with men from Mooers, Champlain,Syracuse, and New York City as well as Plattsburgh. After forming inPlattsburgh, they left the state for Washington by detachments.Companies A, B, C and D, left on June 19th and took part in thePennsylvania Campaign.The regiment served the Cavalry Brigade of the 22nd Corps in and aroundWashington, until it was consolidated with the 13th Cavalry in August1865 and designated the 3rd Provisional Cavalry and was mustered out onSeptember 21, 1865.After the end of the war and before the he was mustered out, Lewis wenton the greatest adventure of his life. Volunteers from the 16th Cavalryand others went after Lincoln's assassin, John Wilkes Booth and capturedhim.Some sources say the private soldiers of the regiment received\$1,653.85.http://www.history.com/news/ask-history/who-received-the-reward-for-john-wilkes-booths-captureOther sources say he the men received \$1,000.https://books.google.com/books?id=X1FHAQAAIAAJ&pg=RA5-PA39&focus=viewpor&dq=16th+ny+Cavalry+booth&output=textLewis returned to the North Country and died in 1884. He was buried inthe Union Cemetery in Vermontville, in Franklin County -- the day beforehis 44th birthday.A talk being given by James Carson, the author of, "Chasing Mosby,Killing Booth," will probably clear up the discrepancy. It will be givenat the Saranac Town Hall at 7pm on September 28th. A print-and-postflyer about the talk for your bulletin board can be found at: http://nnyacgs.com/files/carson_saranac_mosby_booth.pdf
