WILLIAM STEVENSON -- 118th INFANTRY2 YEARS -- 1 MONTH -- 22 DAYS -IN THE ARMY - William Stevenson, who wasborn in England, was thirty-six years old when he enlisted and wasmustered in to the 118th Infantry in Black Brook on December 17, 1863.He was sent to join the regiment in their camp in Newport News, VA afterhe promised to serve for three years. In May 1864, the regiment wasthrown into the Operations Before Petersburg and before the end of themonth had sustained 199 casualties.When William got to Virginia, there was another William Stevenson whowas a lieutenant with the regiment. There were two William Stevensons inthe 118th until May 16, 1864, when the lieutenant was the only officerkilled at Cold Harbor.In June the 118th was part of an assault on Petersburg. At the end ofSeptember, they were at Chaffin's Farm and then William got sick. By theend of February, he was back with the regiment until June 1865, afterthe fall of Petersburg in April.Many of the 118th went home in June after their three years were overbut Franklin and others who hadn't fulfilled their commitment weretransferred to the 96th to participate in the clean-up operations aroundPetersburg. William was mustered out on February 8, 1866, and came hometo Clinton County.By 1870, William was back in Black Brook with his wife and two children.
