MARTIN V. LENNON – 77(th) INFANTRYWOUNDED AT CEDAR CREEK - On October 1, 1861, thirty-three men enlistedin the 77th Infantry in Keeseville. Twelve of the thirty-three didn’treturn either dying from disease or as a result of battle.Martin V. Lennon, who was mustered in as 1st sergeant, was one of thesemen. He and his companions travelled to Saratoga Springs where theregiment was organized and from there, on November 28th, left forWashington to serve for 3 years. In New York they received their armsand equipment and left for Baltimore where they were taunted by Southernsympathizers and were lucky to leave without incident.The 77th went into camp at Meridian Hill about a mile northwest of theWhite House and drilled until the following spring when they went overthe chain bridge across the Potomac into Virginia. By this time, Martinhad been promoted to 1st lieutenant because his captain, FranklinNorton, was promoted to be lieut-colonel of the 123rd Infantry. For thenext year the regiment was with the Army of the Potomac - at the Siegeof Yorktown in April the Seven Days’ Battles, Antietam andFredericksburg in December and all the battles in between. Just afterthe Seven Days’ Battles, Martin was promoted to Captain.In 1863, they fought in Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania from Mayuntil December. Their first battles after winter quarters were Marye’sHeights and Salem Church where they had 83 casualties. They had nocasualties for the rest of the year even though they were at Gettysburg,returned to Antietam and had seven other battles.1864 began with the Battles of the Wilderness and SpotsylvaniaCourthouse where they sustained over 200 casualties. By the end ofOctober, they were in 12 more battles in Virginia and their last was atCedar Creek on October 19th. During this battle, Martin was injured and12 days later, he died – one of two officers who were mortally wounded.There is a monument commemorating Martin in the Union Cemetery inVermontville. His parents, John Lennon and Almeda Dewey, outlived Martinand were also buried there. Almeda died in 1873. In 1877, John appliedfor a pension based on his son’s service. He died in 1881 afterreceiving the pension for 4 years.
