LOUIS GARIEPY – 16(th) INFANTRY and 1(st) LIGHT ARTILLERYIN INFANTRY THEN ARTILLERY - At 20 years old, Canadian-born LouisGariepy enlisted in the 16th Infantry and his service was credited toPeru. He enlisted and was mustered in on the same date, May 15, 1861, toserve for 2 years as a private. The men of Louis’ Company C were mainlyfrom the Plattsburgh area.The 16th was a 2-year regiment formed one month afterLincoln’s first call for men. They went to Albany by boat and train andthen, after training at a military camp in Bethlehem, NY, left forWashington on June 27th. By July 17th, they were engaged at FairfaxCourt House in Virginia. They had their first injury at 1st Bull Run 4days later – Wilson Hopkins.In 1862, their most bloody battle was at Gaines’ Mill, one of the 7Days’ Battles – 41 killed in action, 17 mortally wounded and 173injuries. More terrible battles followed that year including Crampton’sPass in Maryland with 18 killed in action, 8 mortally wounded and 27injured. At Antietam, 3 days after this battle, they had 3 moreinjuries.Just before they were scheduled to be mustered out, the regiment foundthemselves at Marye’s Heights and Salem Church on May 3 and 4, 1863.Lewis was one of the 17 men who were captured in action, fortunately, hewas soon paroled. In that battle, 24 were killed in action, 12 died oftheir wounds and 101 were injured but recovered. About 3 weeks later,they mustered out.Louis liked military life and for a town bounty of $150 and a countybounty of $200 he enlisted in the 1st Light Artillery on December 14,1863, as Lewis Garriaty. Before he left for Battery B and Virginia, hemarried Margaret Soulia on December 21st. His battery was at TheWilderness, North Anna, Totopotomoy, Cold Harbor, Bethesda and the worksbefore Petersburg and Richmond. After the roads had dried in March 1865,Battery B was on the Appomattox Campaign, ending at Appomattox CourtHouse for the surrender. On June 18, 1865, the battery was honorablydischarged at Elmira, NY, and Louis found his way home.In later years, he moved to Holyoke, MA, for work. He died on October 7,1912 and is buried in the family plot in Notre Dame Cemetery in SouthHadley, MA.
