A BETHLEHEM CONNECTION: CIVIL WAR SOLDIERS AND SAILORS

The Civil War (1861-1865) was a seminal era for the United States, the State of New York and the Town of Bethlehem. Over 2,750,000 soldiers and sailors fought for the North or South during the war. About 449,000 of them were from the State of New York. Over 350 of those have a Bethlehem connection.

How do you define Civil War soldiers and sailors “from” the Town of Bethlehem? Were they born, enlisted, lived, died or buried in the Town of Bethlehem? Or perhaps some combination of these factors? Men have been identified that fit all these categories. A few of their stories are highlighted here.

Bethlehem Connections to the 177th New York Infantry

The 177th was organized at Albany under Col. Ira W. Ainsworth and left New York on December 16, 1862 for New Orleans assigned under the 3rd brigade of Sherman’s division. It took part in skirmishes at McGill’s Ferry, Pontchatoula, Civiques Ferry, and Amite River, and was active throughout the siege of Port Henry. The 177th mustered out at Albany on September 24, 1863. Only eight were killed or mortally wounded in action; 152 died of disease.

Several with Bethlehem connections served with the 177th including the Carknard brothers Andrew and Joel. Sons of Robert and Catherine Carknard of Bethlehem, Andrew and Joel enlisted in Company I in October 1862 and both died of disease the following spring in Bonnet Carre, Louisiana, and are buried there.

William Slingerland, the son of John I. Slingerland and Sarah Hall, also enlisted in October 1862 in the 177th New York Infantry. A farmer, Slingerland was 18 years old when he enlisted. He mustered out with the 177th in September of 1863. His post office was listed as Norman’s Kill, a hamlet in town soon to be known as Slingerlands. Slingerland’s 1928 death notice in the Altamont Enterprise notes he always lived in the hamlet and was its oldest resident. He was a retiree of the American Express company.

A poignant Bethlehem connection is the story of James A. Scrafford. He came to his grandfather’s home in Bethlehem to die. Scrafford was born in Guilderland and went to Louisiana with the 177th. There he took ill and his family made arrangements to bring him home. He arrived extremely ill in Albany on August 21, 1863 and died a week later at the home of his grandfather William Scrafford Esq. The Scrafford family in Bethlehem ran a hotel in Elsmere near today’s Mason Drive.

Bethlehem Connections to the 26th Infantry, US Colored Troops

One wonders if Jacob Jackson (age 17 at enlistment) and Samuel Jackson (age 22) were cousins. Both were born in Bethlehem. Jacob’s parents were Samuel Jackson and Betty Holland. Samuel’s were Anthony Jackson and Susan Harris. Jacob and Samuel enlisted at Albany on August 8, 1864 as privates in company H of the 26th Infantry, U.S. Colored Troops and were paid a bounty of $33.33. Both were discharged Aug 22, 1865, “at Hilton Head, SC by reason of expiration of term of services.” Samuel continued to live at Cedar Hill while Jacob’s post office was listed as Albany.

The 26th Infantry, US Colored Troops was organized under Col. William Sillman in February of 1864. It served in the Department of the East to March 1864, in the District of Beaufort, SC, Department of the South, to April 1865 until it was honorably discharged and mustered out under Col. William B. Guernsey in August 1865. During its service the regiment lost by death 21 killed in action, 9 from wounds received in action, 104 from disease, and 11 from other causes.

Others from Bethlehem who served in the 26th include John Wright and Peter Dickson. Other Jackson family members who served with the 26th are Robert, Robert H. and Jarred.

Bethlehem Connections to Well Know Civil War Events

There is plenty of opportunity to research Bethlehem’s connections to well known Civil War events. Here are a tantalizing few with interesting connections. Lt. Robert G. Noxon, who was born in Bethlehem, died from wounds received at Gettysburg. David Burhans who was from Bethlehem and formed up a company here, died May 10, 1864 at Po River during the battle of Spotsylvania Court House. Four Bethlehem men are known to have died at the Andersonville prison: David McCulloch, Matthew Shillford, John Stultz and Charles VanAllen.

Resources/Bibliography

Bethlehem Revisited A Bicentennial Story, Floyd Brewer senior editor.

Heroes of Albany A Memorial of the Patriot-Martyrs of the City and County of Albany by Rufus W. Clark (available on-line at archive.org)

New York Civil War Muster Roll Abstracts (ancestry.com)

New York State Military Museum website (http://dmna.state.ny.us/historic/mil-hist.htm)

New York Town Clerk’s Registers of Men Who Served in the Civil War compiled by Bethlehem Town Clerk William Sible (ancestry.com)

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