MICHAEL WHALEN -- 96th INFANTRY ONE OF 60 WHO ENLISTED IN MOOERS IN FALL OF 1861 - The 96th Infantry organized in Plattsburgh under Colonel James Fairman. Company F was recruited mainly in Mooers and Chazy. Most of the companies were raised in Clinton County, but there was one each from Chateaugay, Fort Edward,Ticonderoga and Warrensburg. Michael Whalen (Whelan), who was born in Ireland in 1828, enlisted on November 25, 1861, while he was living in Mooers. He was mustered into Captain James Sweeny's Company F on February 26, 1862, to serve for 3 years. Starting in April, after the Siege of Yorktown, they fought their way up the Virginia Peninsula. In December they went on the Expedition from Goldsboro to New Bern, NC, and stayed on the North Carolina coast until they were recalled to the Petersburg/Richmond theater. During one of their first operations in Virginia, Michael was wounded on May 7, 1864, near Petersburg and was later transferred to Company A of the Veteran Reserve Corps. His Muster Roll Abstract for the 96th says he was absent sick since May 1864 and at the muster-out of the regiment and that no discharge was given. An attached note on the abstract says he was transferred back to Company A of the 96th.When he returned to Mooers, he said he was discharged on February 26, 1865. He also says he was in the Seven Days' Battles in 1862 but mentions no later battles.
