Exchanged

The 125^th New York; a regiment raised in Rensselaer County, New York, was officially exchanged on November 22^nd 1862 from Camp Douglas, Chicago, Illinois.

The 125^th New York Infantry was raised in Rensselaer County, New York and was mustered into Union service at the end of August 1862 in Troy, New York with Colonel George L Willard as their commander for a term of three years.  The men left Troy by train August 30^th 1862 for Martinsburg, Virginia.  Just a few days later they were involved in the Battle of Harper’s Ferry.  Several of the men of the regiment were killed and wounded.  The 125^th were also among the 11,500 men garrisoned at Harper’s Ferry who surrendered to the Confederates on September 15^th 1862.

The 125^th along with the other captured troops were sent under parole to Camp Douglas in Chicago, Illinois to await exchange.  They would be referred to as the “Harpers Ferry Cowards”   The exchange came for the 125^th on November 22^nd 1862, and the men were sent back to Virginia, where they took up position in the defense of Washington, DC.  They were camped at Centerville on June 24^th 1863, when they became part of the II Corps, Union General Alexander Hay’s Division.  Their commander Colonel George L Willard became the brigade commander.  The men marched off to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.  During the Battle of Gettysburg the 125^th lost 139 men killed and wounded, including Colonel Willard.

The 125^th would go on the fight at Bristoe Station, the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor and many more.  They would be engaged every day during the siege of Petersburg from July 16^th 1864 through April 1^st 1865.  The 125^th or what was left of it was at Appomattox when Confederate General Robert E Lee surrendered.

Following the Grand Review of the troops in Washington, DC, the men of the 125^th proceeded to Troy, New York, where they were mustered out of service June 15^th 1865.

They Lost Over Half Their Strength

The 19^th Maine Infantry was discharged from Union service May 31^st 1865, after serving for three years.

The 19^th Maine Infantry was raised in Bath, Maine, and was mustered into Union service August 25^th 1862.  Most of the men came from the counties of Kennebec, Knox and Waldo.  The 19^th was in the Battles of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Bristoe Station, Gettysburg, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor, Boydton Plank Road, and many others.  These men fought on July 2^nd 1863 at Gettysburg loosing 53% of the regimental strength, when they were moved forward to the Codori Farm to cover the retreat of Sickles' Third Corps.  Their commander there was Colonel Francis E Heath from Waterville, Maine; he was wounded on July 3^rd 1863 during Pickett’s Charge just south of the Copse of Trees.  On June 18^th 1864 the remaining 277 men of the 4^th Maine were merged into the 19^th.

The remaining members of the 19th were mustered out of the Union Army on May 31^st 1865 at Bailey’s Cross Roads.  Of the 1,441 who were members of the 19^th Maine, 192 were killed in actions or died from wounds received, 501 were wounded.  184 men died from diseases and 47 died while being held in Confederate Prisoner of War camps.

Killed Leading His Men

Confederate Brigadier General John Randolph Chambliss Jr was killed August 16^th 1864 at the Second Battle of Deep Bottom.

John Randolph Chambliss Jr was born January 23^rd 1833 in Hicksford, Greensville, Virginia.  He attended West Point, graduating 31^st out of 52 in the class in 1853.  He received a commission of Second Lieutenant, and taught cavalry tactics at military school in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.  The next year Chambliss resigned his commission and returned to the family home.  From 1858 through 1861 he was a member of the Virginia militia.

In July 1861 he would be commissioned the Colonel of the 13^th Virginia Cavalry.  In November 1862 his regiment was assigned to be part of General William Henry Fitzhugh “Rooney” Lee’s cavalry.  At the Battle of Brandy Station on June 9^th 1863, Chambliss’s men were located at Beverly Ford.  His 50 man unit drove the Union cavalry in their front into the river taking a number of prisoners.  After Rooney Lee was wounded and Colonel Solomon Williams was killed in the battle Chambliss took over command of the brigade.  Riding into Pennsylvania with Confederate General JEB Stuart, he was in the cavalry battle at Hanover, Pennsylvania on June 30^th 1863.  Chambliss’s brigade also saw action at the Battle of Gettysburg on July 3^rd 1863 out on East Cavalry Field.  He continued to lead the brigade in the Battle of Bristoe Station, and would be promoted to Brigadier General.

While leading his men on the Charles City Road east of Richmond, Virginia during the Second Battle of Deep Bottom on August 16^th 1864 Chambliss was killed.  His body was left on the Union side of this line and was buried by Union men.  The next day under a flag of truce Confederate General David M Gregg sent a detachment of Confederates across the line to retrieve Chambliss’ body for burial in Emporia, Virginia in the Chambliss Family Cemetery.