9 MONTHS IN THE 91st FOR PERU FARMER - In May 1863, William H. Tyrell of Peru was placed on the Draft Registration List by the Provost Marshal of the 16th Congressional District, George Clendon. The 16th District consisted of Clinton, Essex and Warren Counties. Twenty-year-old William, son of Thomas Tyrell from County Kildaire, Ireland, had been living on his father's farm near Valcour when he enlisted in the 91st Infantry on September 8, 1864, in Plattsburgh.The 91st came back from Louisiana in July 1864 and, after the veterans' furloughs more men were needed to fill out the regiment. William was one of the replacement troops who joined them to participate in the Defenses of Baltimore. In October, he spent some time in hospital but was soon released.In February 1865, the regiment was ordered to join the Army of the Potomac while they were in the field near Petersburg and joined the Appomattox Campaign on March 28th. They reached Appomattox Court House by April 9th, in time for Lee's surrender. On the way they were in several engagements and had received 230 casualties just days before the end of the war. After the Grand Review of the Armies in May 1864, the regiment was on duty until June 10, 1865.William returned to Clinton County, married Olive Stacy in 1882 and continued to farm. He died in 1913 and was buried in the Gilliland Cemetery. Olive immediately applied for a Widows Pension and received it until she died in 1918.
