PHILETUS and SETH STAFFORD -- 16th INFANTRY and 2nd VETERANCAVALRYTWO ENLISTED -- ONE RETURNED - On May 15, 1861, two brothers, Seth andPhiletus Stafford, sons of Luther Stafford and Ruthe Thew who werefarming in Ellenburg, enlisted and were mustered into Company K of the16th Infantry. Seth at 24, was the older brother by six years.They were two of Captain William Wallace Wood's 64 privates and they allleft for Washington on June 26th from the station in Albany. Thebrothers were together through 1st Bull Run and a couple of minorengagements in 1861. They spent their first winter at Camp Franklin onthe south side of the Potomac near Washington and were ordered to theVirginia Peninsula. They had their first battle at West Point, VA, onthe York River on May 7, 1862, and had 6 men killed among othercasualties. By May 22, they had marched about 40 miles toMechanicsville, VA, a few miles northeast of Richmond where they foughtagain. They started the Seven Days' Battles on June 25th, and atGaines' Mill on June 27th, the brothers were separated for life --Philetus was killed in action. He was buried on the field and there isno marker for him.Seth carried on after the loss of his brother and, after being atCrampton's Gap in Maryland where they had 63 more casualties at Antietamand finished 1862 at Fredericksburg. About three weeks before the 16thwas to muster out, the regiment was in the terrible battles at Marye'sHeights and Salem Church. Seth survived the battles and returned home.By December of the same year, Seth was mustered in as a private in the2nd Veteran Cavalry, however there is no further record on his MusterRoll Abstract.Seth lived in Franklin County until he died. After his death, his widow,Mary Ann Stowe Stafford, moved first to Massachusetts and then toShelby, MO, to live with one of their children.
