MOSS KENT PLATT -- 153rd INFANTRYMUSTERED IN AS QUARTERMASTER - Moss Kent Platt was over 50 years oldwhen the Civil War began on April 12, 1861. He was the grandson ofZephaniah Platt, a slaveholder, and one of the founders of Plattsburgh.In 1847, Moss began the manufacture of iron near the Saranac River fromiron ore mined west of Plattsburgh. He built plank roads to connect theiron works with the city and with Clinton State Prison and employed theprison inmates to work in his plant. In 1852, he built a railroad fromPlattsburgh to the Canada--US border which connected the city withMontréal.Sometime during 1862, he enlisted in a regiment that was immediatelymerged into the 153rd Infantry and, on October 2, 1862, he wasmustered in as 1st lieutenant and quartermaster. It seems that Mossnever left the city when the regiment went to Fonda, NY, to organize.Instead, he performed his duties as quartermaster for the threecompanies that were recruited in Clinton County and was nevercommissioned lieutenant. Throughout the war he continued to be active inthe business community and was the county coroner.Moss was a Republican member of the New York State Senate 16th Districtin 1866 and 1867. In 1868, he ran for presidential elector on theUlysses S. Grant ticket, but New York was won by Democrat HoratioSeymour. In 1873, he was elected an Inspector of State Prisons, and diedin office.He died of a stress-related illness at half past four on Wednesday, onMarch 1, 1876, and was buried in the Riverside Cemetery in Plattsburgh.His obituary in the Plattsburgh Sentinel of March 3, 1876, nevermentioned his wartime service.
