SUPLIEN SAMPICA -- 96th INFANTRYBAD LUCK AT 2nd FAIR OAKS - On November 25, 1861, Suplien Sampicaenlisted in the 96th Infantry in Churubusco under the name LaportSampike. At the same time, his brother, Patrick, also enlisted. Theywere mustered in as privates for Co. A on November 28th. Suplienexpected to serve for 3 years but was honorably discharged fordisability on November 8, 1862 in Washington because of a left inguinalhernia.Two years later, Patrick Sampica, was still in Company A of the 96th.Suplien re-enlisted in the same regiment on December 31, 1863. This timehe was assigned to Company B.The brothers\' luck held through the 16 battles they were in 1864, untilthe 3-day Battle of Fair Oaks at the end of October. Patrick was killedin action sometime during those 3 days. His Muster Roll Abstract says hewas taken prisoner, but later died. Suplien was taken prisoner and takento Salisbury Prison in central North Carolina.According to his pension application, while Suplien was in prison, on orabout December 20, 1864, he received an injury to his back caused by astick of oak wood weighing over 100 lbs. accidentally being droppedacross his back over his kidneys while he was in a stooping positionattending the cooking of his food. This injury caused his back to bevery lame rendering the discharge of urine painful and difficult andalso causing his inability to retain urine. This injury also causedbloody dysentery. At about the same time he contracted a malarial feverof which he was sick for a long time. He also suffered from want ofproper food, while he was a prisoner, and was deprived of all food somedays before being fed on corn cob meal and broom corn meal which injuredand impaired his digestive organs. He also suffered exposure toinclement storms and cold weather without the without the properclothing.Suplien was paroled on March 2, 1865, at North East Bridge, NC. Herecovered from the death of his brother and returned home. He marriedMarguerite Bluteau on January 28, 1868, in Chateaugay. They had at least8 children, and named one of them Patrick after the brother who died inthe war.\Suplien's obituary was in the Chateaugay Record and Franklin CountyDemocrat of March 6, 1914.\"A figure well-known in Northern New York is removed by death in thedemise of Suplene Sampica, which occurred at his home in Cherubusco at 1o'clock on Tuesday morning, following an illness of about 2 months.The deceased was born about 73 years ago, on a farm a short distancefrom where he died, and with the exception of the time she spent in theservice during the Civil War and a period of 11 years as an employee atDannemora Prison, his life time was passed near the scenes of hischildhood. During the war, he was a prisoner at Andersonville Prison andupon his discharge, he was honored with the title of Captain. For manyyears, he took an active part in the politics of his town and county,and his acquaintanceship was largely extended because of theseactivities.He is survived by his widow, the former Marguerite Bluteau, two sons,Supline Sampica, of St. Albans, VT, and Patrick Sampica, of Cherubusco,and 3 daughters, Mrs. Ellen Robare and Miss Annie Sampica of Cherubusco,and Mrs. Addie Mear, of Dannemora. Funeral services were held onThursday at St. Philomena's Church in Churubusco."Suplien's grave can be found in the Immaculate Heart of Mary Cemetery inChurubusco. He was laid to rest with his wife and 3 children who died ininfancy.
