ORVIS WASHBURN -- 16th INFANTRYWOUNDED IN THE THIGH AT GAINES' MILL - Orvis Washburn, the son of SimeonWashburn and Emma Wright, was born in Luzerne, NY, and was living inSaranac, when he enlisted in the 16th Infantry. He mustered in as aprivate in Plattsburgh in September 1861 to serve for two years. Theregiment had left for Washington the previous May.On Sept. 15 they were ordered to Fort Lyon near the capital where Orvisjoined them. The winter of 1861-62 was passed at Camp Franklin nearFairfax Seminary, VA, where the regiment remained until April 6, 1862,when it was ordered to Catlett\'s station, but returned to campimmediately and was then ordered to Yorktown, where it arrived on May 3.After almost three months on the Virginia Peninsula, they began a seriesof seven battles near Richmond. These battles were the culmination ofthe Peninsula Campaign and became known as the Seven Days' Battlesfought under Generals McClellan and Lee.During the first of these battles at Gaines' Mill, Orvis was severelywounded in the left thigh and taken prisoner on June 27, 1862. He wasreturned to Union Lines on July 27th, still suffering from the wound,and taken to hospital. On December 27th, he was discharged fordisability on and returned home to Saranac. In March 1864, he wasawarded an Invalids Pension under the name Orville Washburn.Orville married and supported his family as a carpenter. In later life,he and his wife moved to Plattsburgh. When his wife, Keziah, died, hewent to live with his son Stephen. When he died in 1913, he was buriedin the Independence Cemetery in Saranac near his wife, his parents andmany of his brothers and sisters.The Plattsburgh Daily Press of January 31, 1913, carried these few wordson his death -- "WASHBURN -- In Rouses Point at the home of his sonStephen C. Washburn, aged 78 years."
