WESLEY FULLER CASHMAN153rd INFANTRY, 14th ARTILLERY, 14th VETERAN RESERVE CORPSIN THREE REGIMENTS - Wesley Fuller Cashman was 18 years old and 5' 4½"tall when he enlisted in the 153rd Infantry to be one of seventyprivates in Company K on September 15, 1862. Captain Frederick Chitty'scompany was made up of men from Ellenburg, Altona, Mooers andQueensbury.The 153rd organized in Fonda, NY, and left for Washington on October18th, the day he was mustered in. Wesley expected to serve for threeyears but was discharged for disability on January 15, 1863 - fourmonths after his enlistment. The regiment continued serving inAlexandria, VA, as provost guards.He returned home to his parents, Patrick Cashman, who was born in CountyCork, Ireland, and his mother, Eleanor Adsit, who was born in EssexCounty. Before the year was up, Wesley enlisted again. This time in the14th Artillery in St. Lawrence County while they were recruiting for anew regiment that was to go straight to the Petersburg/Richmond area.Wesley's first battle was at The Wilderness where they were onlypartially engaged, but the next week, at Spotsylvania, they suffered 54casualties. By the end of July, the regiment received 655 morecasualties in battles around Petersburg. In September and October,Wesley was in two more battles before he became ill and was sent tohospital. In December he was transferred to the Company A of the 14thRegiment of the Veterans Reserve Corps and was discharged in Washingtonon July 31, 1865Wesley married Sarah Beach in 1867 and they went on to have at least 10children on their farm. After spending time in Clinton and St. LawrenceCounties the couple ended up in Watertown, CT, living with their son,Howard. Wesley died in 1923 and was buried in the New Evergreen Cemeterythere. Sarah died in 1930 and was buried next to him.
