LUTHER SIBLEY -- 2nd VETERAN CAVALRYLEVI SIBLEYY -- 96th INFANTRYTWO BROTHERS FROM PERU - The two eldest children of Luther EverestSibley and Emeline Fields enlisted in Plattsburgh for the Civil War Theyoungest, born in 1843, in Peru, was Luther who enlisted in the 2ndVeteran Cavalry in December 1863 for a town bounty of \$150 and a countybounty of \$200. Four months later, Luther's eldest brother by twoyears, Levi, enlisted in March 1864 in the 96th Infantry. Both mensigned up to serve for 3 years.Luther's 2nd Veteran Cavalry was sent almostimmediately to Louisiana and General Banks' Red River Campaign. Banks isblamed for the failure of the enterprise. Instead of sticking to roadsalong the river where he would have had Naval support, he sent his mento the interior through the woods where the Rebels were waiting toattack the soldiers and their supply lines. Luther became ill and diedof typhoid fever on April 10, 1864 at Grand Ecore, a bluff overlookingthe Red River, about 8 miles north of Natchitoches, LA -- just 3 monthsand 30 days after his enlistment.On March 31, 1864, Levi enlisted in the 96th Infantry while hisbrother was in Louisiana. He spent his whole military career in andaround Petersburg and was in some of the most horrendous battles of thewar -- Drewry's Bluff, Cold Harbor and Chaffin's Farm with many smallerbattles and skirmishes in between. After the surrender, the regimentstayed in the area until February 1866 performing police and garrisonduties.Levi returned to Peru, the place of his birth, and moved to Michigan tomarry Alzina Carr daughter of John Carr and Betsey Arnold, who had beenneighbors of the Sibleys in Peru. Their first child, Annette, was bornin Dewitt, MI, about 10 miles north of Lansing in 1868. Alzina died in1922 and Levi stayed on the farm for four more years until he died atage 84. They were both buried in the Dewitt Cemetery in Clinton County,MI. One of their sons, Alger, lived until 1975.
