William H. Gaige was the son of Laurence and Maria Gaige, and husband of Mary. He was born May1841 and died 19 June 1903. He was buried in Poultney Cemetery, Rutland County, Vermont. He belonged to GAR Post 49, and his grave is marked with a GAR marker. William H. Gaige, single, aged about 20, enlisted as a private in Watertown, NY April, 1861. He was promoted to full Sgt. Major in A Company, 35th Infantry Regiment on 2 Nov 1862. He transferred from Company A to Company S in November 1862. He was mustered out at Elmira, NY on 5 June 1863.
Gaige re-enlisted as a First Lieutenant in the 18th Calvary on 25 June 1864 in New Orleans, LA for 3 years. He was promoted to full Captain of Company C in December 1864. He transferred 25 October 1864 from Company H to Company E, and on 29 January 1865 from Company E to Company G. and was discharged 12 June 1865 in Victoria, Texas.
The 35th Infantry Regiment was known as the Jefferson County regiment. Organized at Elmira NY, it was mustered 11 June 1861 and moved to Washington DC where it was attached to Hinter's Brigade, Division of the Potomac Army to 1861. Then Wadsworth's Brigade, McDowell's Division to March 1862. Next 2nd Brigade, King's Division, Army of the Rappahannock to June 1862, and 3rd Brigade 1st Division 3rd Corps, Pope's Army of Virginia to September 1862. 3rd Brigade, 1st Division 1st Army Corps, Army of the Potomac to 1863. Provost Marshal General Patrick's command, Army of the Potomac to June 1863.
SERVICE
Will Gaige enlisted in Watertown in April 1861 and the 35th Regiment spent until March 1862 on "Duty in the defense of Washington DC." Mostly they moved short distances, here and there, at the whim of politician generals, and no action was engaged. They were under McDowell's command, advancing then retreating at First Manasses and toward Richmond, VA. Minor skirmishes and no more. Mostly blunders and poor planning by the Union command.
Their first action was on June 9, 1862 in the Shenandoah Valley. The 35th, under Brig. General Tyler holding position between South Fork and Blue Ridge mountains. Attacked by "Stonewall" Jackson, the feds held ground under serious attack. Confederate General Winder retreated; Feds steamed forward in pursuit. Confederate reinforcements under General Ewell arrived and struck the left flank...Jackson attacked at the front; Feds badly outnumbered, mauled and broke for rear and pursued for five miles.
August 9 1862 ORANGE COURTHOUSE
Confederates under General Jackson and Feds under General Pope across the Rapidan River near Orange Courthouse: on August 7, Jackson sent 22,000 troops against 12,000 Union troops. Dreadfully hot, terrible roads. The 35th Regiment under Brig. General Crawford moved into the wheat field and headed for the Confederate army entrenched along a line of woods, without knowing that they faced an enemy who heavily outnumbered them. The Confederate infantry, under Brig. General Charles Winder was poorly situated, and Winder was killed by artillery shot as Union soldiers attacked. The 35th Regiment fell on a seam between Jackson's units and unraveled the entire left of his army, shattering regiment after regiment in the process. At the same time, Union General Christopher Augur's division boiled out of the cornfield and forced retreat of the Confederate artillery. Confederate general Ambrose Powell Hill reinforced Jackson and cleared the field of Union forces.
2500 Union Killed, 1400 Confederate Killed
William H. Gaige was promoted to "Full Sergt. Major" shortly after the battle of Orange Courthouse; so one can assume that he showed some significant leadership ability during this intense action (and for the Union forces, the first significant action where they showed both initiative and guts/bravery).
September 14, 1862 Battle of South Mountain
Union General McClellan has confederate General Lee's battle plans; plus superior Union numbers and positions; but ABSOLUTELY FAILED TO IMPLEMENT his own plans. The 35th was attached to General Hooker's I Corp, and they performed adequately on the extreme left wing. Most of the action was at the center.
September 17, 1862 Battle of Antietam
The battle opened with Hooker's I Corp (with 35th NY Regiment) attacking Confederate left flank under General Jackson. Fighting surged back and forth on a 30 acre cornfield, with reinforcements pouring in; but neither side achieving any advantage. THIS WAS THE BIGGEST SLAUGHTER OF THE WAR. SOLDIERS ON BOTH SIDES SIDES REPORTED THE AIR...THE SKY...WAS RED WITH BLOOD.
12,500 UNION KILLED; 1O,300 CONFEDERATE KILLED.
April 27 - May 6, 1963 CHANCELLORVILLE
SGT William Gaige was 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 1st Army Corp.
General Robert E. Lee and General T.J. Jackson led a dramatically outnumbered Confederate Army of the Virginia (30,000 Confederate opposed by 60,000 Union) to victory. Called Lee's greatest victory and the Union's greatest defeat. Left the Union Army in disarray. The First Division was held in reserve during the entire battle.
Sgt. William Gaige mustered out of army on June 5, 1863 at end of 3 year enlistment.
EIGHTEENTH REGIMENT..."CORNING LIGHT CAVALRY."
This regiment was organized at NY City, to serve for three years. The companies were raised from NY counties Albany, Jefferson, Lewis, Franklin, Herkimer, and Erie. It was mustered into the service of the US government from July 13 1863.
SERVICE
July 13 - 16 New York City Riots
Irish rioted in protest of blacks serving in the military as soldiers instead of servants. The 18th called in to kill a few blacks and settle the Irish.
Aug 1863 - Feb 1864. Defense of Washington DC
Feb 16 1865 Arrived port of New Orleans to serve in Department of the Gulf.
Lt William Gaige and the 18th Regiment started as cops in the NYC Riots. The Irish were being drafted and therefore blamed the blacks. Then (again) served to protect Washington from attack until they sailed down to New Orleans where they were active in the Red River Campaign (Mar 10 - May 22 1864). In a war full of Union Army mistakes, confusion, blunders and cowardice, the Red River Campaign is recognized as the WORST OF THE WORST UNION EFFORT IN THE ENTIRE CIVIL WAR.
Union politicians and profiteers looked to the Red River Campaign as an opportunity to sieze southern cotton and to move northern "carpetbaggers" onto rich Texas and LA agricultural land. A small handful of Confederate soldiers repeatedly defeated 30,000 Union troops and delayed the end of the war by many months.
8 April 1864 Mansfield, Louisiana
Union General NP Banks led 30,000 troops along a bad road through dense pine forests and rolling hills. Confederate General Talor, with 8,800
troops established a line three miles south of Mansfield. Shortly after noon on April 8, 1864, US Brig General AL Lee put his 18th Cavalry in advance and they were hit by heavy volleys of muskets...the cavalry retreated. Both sides skirmished, then the Confeds under General Mouton attacked overran the Union cavalry supply wagon train and pushed the much larger Union forces 17 miles to Pleasant Hill. Confederates continued attack over next weeks and chased the Union forces all the way back to New Orleans to then serve guard duty in New Orleans.
Wm Gaige was promoted to Captain Dec. 1864 and served in various duties in Texas until discharged in Victoria, TX.
For more information, contact Robert Gaige EvansReturn to Jefferson County Genweb page