WILLIAM HEADING BECKWITH -- 118th INFANTRYDIED IN MASSACHUSETTS - Company B of the 118th Infantry was recruitedby Captain Levi Dominy and his two lieutenants, John Carter and JosephTenney. Levi signed up men in Chazy area, John took the Ellenburg areaand Joseph went to Saranac. William Heading Beckwith traveled fromBeekmantown to Chazy in July 1862 to sign up and went to Plattsburgh tobe mustered in at the end of August. William's parents, Rev. BaruchBeckwith and Clarissa Lewis. Baruch's grandfather fought in theRevolution and his direct ancestors were some of the original settlerswho came from Yorkshire to settle in Connecticut.William was to spend three years with the Adirondack Regiment. In 1863,they were on the Virginia Peninsula until December, however, he didn'tmeet up with his company until June because he was sick in hospital. Theonly battle in which they had casualties was at South Anna Bridge inJuly and then they marched down to the mouth of the James to spend thewinter.In 1864 the regiment suffered more than 400 casualties in thePetersburg/Richmond Seat of War. Their bloodiest battle was at Drewry'sBluff where they assaulted the Bluff 14 times before they were told todraw back. After the Fall of Petersburg on April 2, 1865, William wassent to detached service at the 3rd Division Headquarters of the Armyof the James. He was mustered out on June 4, 1865.William married Julia Whitney in 1866 and they had at least fivechildren, one of whom lived until 1976. After his wife died in 1920, hemove to Pittsfield, MA, to live with his brother's family. He died in1925 and his body was brought to Glens Falls about 100 miles to thenorthwest and was buried in the Glens Falls Cemetery.
