LUCIUS LARRABEE TAFT -- 118th INFANTRYOn January 13, 1843, Lucius Larrabee Taft, a sawyer, was born to DavidTaft and Charlotte Bailey, in Dresden, a tiny hamlet on the shore ofLake Champlain near Whitehall. He enlisted in the 118th Infantry onAugust 13, 1862, while the family was living in Schuyler Falls. Two daysbefore the regiment left for their 3-years' service, Lucius was musteredinto Company H with just over a hundred men from the Plattsburgh area.The regiment left for Washington by boat and landed in Whitehalltraveling by his birthplace on the way to their destination.The following chronology is from, "Three Years With the AdirondackRegiment," by John Cunningham who was a major with the 118th. Itstarts on page 176 of his book.CHRONOLOGICAL MEMORANDA OF THE ADIRONDACK REGIMENT1862Sept. 1, 1862. Left Plattsburgh, NY2-3 In New York City4\. Reached Baltimore, Md.5-12. Camp Hall, Baltimore & Ohio R. R., near Elkridge, Md.12-Oct. 23. Camp Wool, Relay House, Md.1863Feb. 12-Apr. 20. Camp Adirondack near Findley Hospital, north of theCapitol, WashingtonApril 20-22 En route to defense of Suffolk, VA22-29 In Camp Nansemond, Suffolk defenses29-May 1. Camp near Fort McClellan, Suffolk defenses.May 1-14. Camp near Fort Union, Suffolk defenses.14-June 18. Camp near Seaboard and Roanoke R. R., Suffolk. While in thiscamp participated in the Blackwater Raid and destruction of railroad,May 20-26, and in reconnaissance toward Petersburg, June 12-17.June 18-19. En route for Yorktown by railroad and transport.19-26. Camp at Yorktown.26\. En route by transport to White House.26-27. Camp at White House.27-July 1. Beyond Pamunkey River in detachments, as advance pickets ondifferent roads.July 1-4. On the march with Gen. Dix\'s expedition to the north ofRichmond; sometimes called the \"Blackberry Raid.\"4\. Affair at South Anna at night.5-10. On march returning to Yorktown.10-13. Camp at Yorktown.13-Oct. 2. Garrison at Fort Keyes, Gloucester Point, York River.Oct. 2-3. En route for Norfolk by transport.3\. Camp Barnes, near Norfolk.11\. Companies E, G, I, and K detached and sent to Portsmouth.Nov. 6. Companies C and H joined the Portsmouth detachment; regimentalheadquarters moved there, and companies A, B, D, and F went into the\"Intrenched Camp\" about two miles from Norfolk.14-Dec. 12. Whole regiment at Portsmouth.Dec. 12-Jan. 21, 1864. Camp at Newport News.1864Jan. 21-23. On march to Williamsburgh.23-Feb. 6. Camp near Fort Magruder, Williamsburgh.Feb. 6-9. On the expedition to Bottom\'s Bridge on the Chickahominy.\9-13. Camp near Union Cemetery, Williamsburgh.13-15. Marched to Newport News and thence by transport and railroad toGetty\'s\Station.15-Mar. 12. In camp near Getty\'s Station, and while here, March 1-9, onexpedition to Deep Creek, pursuing raiders to Ballyhack on the DismalSwamp Canal. Part of the time while at this camp companies B, H, and Kwere detached at Magnolia Station.Mar. 12-Apr. 19. Camp at Bower\'s Hill, Va. From this camp severalexpeditions and raids were made.Apr. 20. En route by transport to Newport News and march via Big Bethelto Yorktown.21-May 4. Camp at Yorktown.May 4-6. On transport up the James River.6\. Landed at Bermuda Hundred and marched to near Point of Rocks, on theAppomattox.7-8. Engaged enemy near Port Walthal and on Petersburg Pike.9-10. Fighting, skirmishing, and destroying railroad. Battle of SwiftCreek on the 9th.11\. Resting in intrenchments near Point of Rocks.12-14. Fighting and skirmishing along the Richmond and Petersburgturnpike, principal actions being at Warebottom Church and Proctor\'sCreek.15\. Holding captured works to the left of the Pike near Fort Darling(Drury\'s Bluff).16\. Battle of Drury\'s Bluff.17-29. Slashing timber, intrenching, skirmishing, reconnoitering, etc.,at various points along the Bermuda front.29-30. On transports via James, York, and Pamunkey Rivers to WhiteHouse.30-June 1. On march to Cold Harbor.June 1-11. Battle of Cold Harbor and in trenches and advance rifle pitsthere.12\. Marched to White House.13-14. On transports back to Bermuda Hundred.15\. Crossed the Appomattox, battle of Petersburg Heights.15-Aug. 27. In and about the trenches in siege of Petersburg. Variouslystationed; near corps headquarters, near Beasley House, Among the Pines,near Mortar Battery (called \"Petersburg Express\"), in the Ravine, atBattle of the Mine, etc.Aug. 27-Sept. 28. On Bermuda front near the James River, south bank.Sept. 28. Marched at night across the James; received Spencer repeatingrifles.29\. Battle of Chapin\'s Farm and capture of Fort Harrison.30\. Battle of \"Holding the Fort\" against three charges of the enemy.30-Oct. 27. In intrenchments in vicinity of the captured fort, nowcalled Fort Burnham. Oct. 27. Marched to Seven Pines and Fair Oaks.28\. Second battle of Fair Oaks.29-Nov. 2. In trenches and works in vicinity of Fort Burnham.Nov. 3. Marched to Aiken\'s Landing under orders which were thererevoked.Nov. 4-7. In reserve near Fort Burnham.7\. Marched to Deep Bottom to meet an expected attack.8-Apr. 3, 1865. In camps in vicinity of the New Market Road, at thenearest point of our works to Richmond.1865Apr. 3. Entered Richmond.4-June 14. In camp near Manchester, opposite Richmond.June 14. Down the James en route for home.17\. In New York City.19\. Reached Plattsburgh.26\. Mustered out.Lucius returned home to Cadyville, NY.
