RUFUSLEMUEL COLE -- 153rd INFANTRYDRUMMED OUT OF CAMP - In the Descriptive Book for the McGregor Post No.463 in Ellenburg Depot, the fourth person to join the Post was RufusLemuel Cole who was born in Swanton, VT. It's unusual that Rufus' namewas recorded because he received a Dishonorable Discharge after a CourtMartial.Rufus enlisted in the 153rd Infantry in Ellenburg on August 28, 1862,when he was twenty-two years old. The regiment was organized in Fonda,NY, and he was mustered into Captain Fred Chitty's Company K with menfrom Queensbury, Altona and Mooers as well as Ellenburg on October18th.At first, the 153rd served in the Defenses of Washington inAbercrombie's Division. In February 1863, they were ordered to join theRed River Campaign with the Department of the Gulf. Before the regimentgot on the transports to go South, Rufus decided to desert. According tohis Muster Roll Abstract, he was court martialed and drummed out of campin Alexandria, VA, as a deserter and given a dishonorable discharge.Rufus came home to his wife, Matilda Hall, his newborn daughter, Mary,and his widowed mother, Mary Barney, who had lost her husband, John, inFebruary 1863. The family continued to farm in Ellenburg. Matilda diedin July 1881 leaving five children, and in October, he married AlviraKent, the widow of Thomas Hobbs who had six children of her own. Matildawas buried in the Riverside Cemetery in Ellenburg Center.Rufus was mustered into the McGregor Post of the G. A. R. on May 10,1884, giving the reason for his discharge as the expiration of his termof service. Alvira died in 1918 and was also buried in the RiversideCemetery, not with Thomas who was buried in the West Hill Cemetery.In 1929, while living in Bennington, VT, Rufus died on May 25, 1929,under the care of Dr. Judson H. Cole, his son. His body was brought backto the Riverside Cemetery to be buried under the same stone as his firstwife.
