PHILETUS AYRES -- 60th INFANTRYKILLED NEAR THE TOP OF CULP'S HILL - Chazy-born Philetus Ayers, son ofNathaniel and Selinda Ayers, enlisted in Champlain on September 21,1861. He became a private in Company H of the 60th Infantry on October30th. Company H was filled with men from Champlain, Mooers, Ellenburgh,Altona, Chazy, Saranac and Lisbon.The regiment left for Washington a few days later, on November 4th. Itwas stationed in that vicinity during the winter and was in GeneralDix\'s Railroad Brigade in the spring of 1862. In June, 1862, theregiment was attached to the 2nd brigade, of Sigel\'s Division,Department of the Shenandoah and later to the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division,2nd Corps, Army of Virginia.It participated in General Pope\'s Virginia campaign and on September12, 1862, was attached, with its brigade and division, to the 12thCorps. At Antietam, Colonel Goodrich, commanding the brigade, was killedand the regiment lost 22 in killed, wounded and missing.In October they were assigned to the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division of the12th Corps, posted at Harper\'s Ferry until December, and then went intowinter quarters at Stafford Court House, VA.In the Chancellorsville movement the 12th Corps led the advance, and theloss of the 60th regiment was 66. At Gettysburg the loss was again heavyin the defense of Culp\'s Hill.It was here that the 19 year-old Philetus was killed in action withwounds to the brain and the chest early in the morning of July 3, 1863,near the present-day observation tower on the hill. He is buried in theGettysburg National Cemetery in the New York Section in plot b-25. Hisname is misspelled on the stone -- Ayrers instead of Ayers - 867 otherNew York soldiers are buried in the same section. You can read moreabout the cemetery at:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gettysburg_National_Cemetery
