RASSELUS WINSLOW PHILLIPS -- 118th INFANTRYDISCHARGED FOR DISABILITY IN JUNE 1865 - Rasselus Winslow Phillips, whowas born in Schuyler Falls, was living in Saranac when he enlisted inthe 118th Infantry. He gave his occupation as "hunter". When he leftfor Washington on September 1, 1862, he left his wife, Roxena Loomis, athome with their three daughters.After a couple of months of guarding railroads near Baltimore, theregiment arrived in the capital to stay at Camp Adirondack. They stayedin the city as part of its defenses until they were ordered to Suffolkon the Virginia Coast. After the Siege of Suffolk, they had a couple ofengagements and then were sent to be part of the defenses of Portsmouthand Newport News with the Department of Virginia and North Carolina.Starting in March 1864, they were in the field again and, by May, werewith the Army of James fighting on the Petersburg/Richmond battlefields.Between the beginning May and the end of October, the regiment suffered473 casualties = their most bloody battle was at Drewry's Bluff inmid-May 40 men were killed in action and 15 were mortally wounded. Atthe end of October, they had 89 men captured at Second Fair Oaks. Duringthe winter, the regiment remained in the trenches and camps aroundPetersburg and suffered 43 more casualties.On April 2, 1865, the 118th entered Petersburg. By June, they were setup in camp on the south side of the James across the James River inManchester. On June 1st, Rasselus was discharged for disability andcame home.By 1870, he and his family were in Wisconsin where their fourth daughterwas born on January 5th. Rasselus and his wife, had several morechildren, one of whom died in 1969. He died on May 30, 1922 in theWisconsin Veteran's Home, which was founded by the Grand Army of theRepublic. He is buried in the Central Washington Veterans MemorialCemetery adjacent to the home in King, WI.
