SENECA WILLIAM TRIPP26th INDEPENDENT LIGHT ARTILLERY and 2nd CAVALRYSURVIVED A SHIPWRECK GOING TO NEW ORLEANS - Seneca William Tripp wasborn in Warrensburg, NY, on October 17, 1837, to William Tripp and MariaHarpp. The first regiment in which he enlisted was the 26th IndependentBattery of the Light Artillery on October 29, 1862, in Rochester.The regiment was organized in Lockport, about 20 miles east of NiagaraFalls.They left the state on December 18th and went straight to Louisiana tojoin the Army and Department of the Gulf in the Defenses of New Orleans.Their transport, "Sparkling", was wrecked between New York City and NewOrleans on January 9, 1863, and the regiment finally arrived at theirdestination on February 4th. By February 25, 1863, Seneca deserted, onlya few months into his 3-year term, and found his way home to his wife,Emily Tucker and 3 children.The next year, he enlisted in late August in the 2nd Cavalry inPlattsburgh under the name Seneca W. Tipp. He arrived in Virginia tojoin the Army of the Shenandoah in time to fight in 26 engagementsbefore the regiment went into winter quarters at the end of December.On March 29, 1865, they joined the Appomattox Campaign and, underGeneral Grant, chased Lee 100 miles westward across central Virginiauntil April 9th and Lee's surrender. After returning to Alexandria, VA,Seneca was mustered out with his regiment on June 5th.Almost immediately after he returned home, Seneca took his family toWadena, MN, in the middle of the state where he took up farm work.Seneca died in 1888 and was buried in the Wadena Cemetery. Emilyimmediately applied for a Widow's Pension and received it until she diedin 1911 in Milwaukie, OR, at the home of their daughter, Anna.
