SMITH PINE -- 16th and 121st INFANTRYFROM THE 16th TO THE 121st AT SALEM CHURCH - On August 18, 1862, SmithPine enlisted in the 16th Infantry in Plattsburgh. The 32-year-oldKeeseville native was mustered into the regiment and the same dateexpecting to serve for three years.The day after President Lincoln called for 75,000, on April 16, 1861,war meetings were held in Towns all over the North Country. Pliny Moore,grandson of General Benjamin Mooers of Battle of Plattsburgh fame,called upon Franklin Palmer, and suggested that steps be taken to raisea company of volunteers under the President\'s call. The next day, anadvertisement was put in the newspaper and Smith answered the call. Hewas assigned to Captain Palmer's Company C.From July 17, 1861, with his first battle at Fairfax Court House, andhis second at Bull Run four days later, he was with the regiment throughnine more engagements including Gaines' Mill where the 16th sustained231 casualties. Three months later, Smith was one of 35 men who werewounded at Crampton's Gap on the way to Antietam. He recovered and wenton to fight with the regiment until May 11, 1863.Smith was transferred to the 121st Infantry after the battles at Marye'sHeights and Salem Church. Both regiments were in the VI Corps with theArmy of the Potomac on the battlefield -- the 16th suffered 154casualties and the 121st suffered 276.In July, the regiment was at Gettysburg and, after several more battles,went into winter quarters. They spent 1864 in Virginia and sustainedover 300 more casualties. Their bloodiest battles were The Wilderness,Spotsylvania and Cedar Creek. In April 1865, on the Appomattox Campaign,they had their last 34 casualties.Smith returned to Keeseville after 2 years, 9 months and 23 days ofservice. The 1892 Census shows he was living in the Town of Chesterfieldand listed his occupation as landlord. He died on February 12, 1912, inKeeseville.
