JEFFERSON COUNTY NEW YORK CIVIL WAR SOLDIERS' BIOGRAPHIES

Samuel A. Moffett

Union Soldier - Distinguished Service

Samuel Moffett was born in 1836 and at the age of 25 on September 27, 1861 in Watertown inlisted in the 94th NY Volunteer Infantry Company A for 3 years.

Before the Antietam Campaign: After 2nd Bull Run, where original commander Colonel Root was wounded, the command of the regiment came to Lieutenant Colonel Littlefield.

The remainder of the War: Littlefield resigned November 1, 1862, though he may have left the Regiment earlier, as evidenced by the fact that Lt. Moffett wrote the Regiment's Antietam after-action report as Commanding Officer 3 days after the battle. In November, Lieut. John A. Kress, U. S. A., was appointed Lt Colonel, and Capt. De Witt C. Tomlinson was made Major. At about this time Lt. Moffett was promoted to Captain. Maj. Tomlinson resigned April 13, 1863, and was succeeded as Major by Capt. Moffett. Under his command the Ninety-fourth participated in the Chancellorsville campaign.

Late in 1863 most of the regiment re-enlisted for the war and went home on furlough, and the Ninety-fourth became the Ninety-fourth Veterans. Major Moffett was promoted lieutenant colonel, December 16, 1863, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Lieutenant Colonel Kress. He was discharged from service on July 18, 1865.

In the Watertown Reformer of July 2, 1863 was printed the following announcement.
MAJ. MOFFATT-- We are pleased learn that our brave and gallant young friend Samuel A. Moffatt of Rodman, has been promoted to Major of the 94th N. Y. V

HDQRS. NINETY-FOURTH REGIMENT NEW YORK VOLS., Saturday, September 20, 1862.

Colonel LYLE, Commanding Second Brigade.
DEAR SIR: In compliance with general orders, I would respectfully report that on Sunday, September 14, our regiment marched from Frederick to South Mountain, arriving at that point at about 6 o'clock p. m. We continued the march until part way up the mountain, when we formed in line of battle, and for a short time remained at a halt. Very soon after we were ordered to march by the front toward the summit, which was continued but a short distance, when we were ordered to move by the left flank. In this direction we moved until far enough to join the right of our brigade upon the left of the First Brigade, when we were again ordered to move to the front, changing our direction by the right flank. We then continued our advance to the front until we occupied our position during the engagement, our regiment being upon the extreme left of the brigade. During the action Captain D. C. Tomlinson was wounded in the back of his neck; also one private of Company D. Number of killed, 2.

Evening having so far set in, the engagement was soon brought to a close. We laid on our arms during the night. Monday, 15th, finding the enemy had retreated, we began a march in pursuit, which was continued to Keedysville, where we encamped for the night. 16th, during the latter part of the day, we again took up our march, and continued it to the battle-ground near Sharpsburg, Md., arriving there at about 11 p. m., when we rested on our arms until the morning of the 17th, between 5 and 6 a. m., when we moved from the position we then occupied to another piece of woods, and immediately formed in line of battle and marched to the front, where our men were engaged for little more than one hour. Our position occupied during this engagement was next to the extreme left of the brigade.

S. A. MOFFETT, Lieutenant, Commanding Regiment.

Sources

Jefferson County NYGenWeb, US Civil War Service Records, "Electronic," for Samuel Moffett

OFFICIAL RECORDS: Series 1, Vol 19, Part 1 (Antietam - Serial 27) , Page 264

Newspaper Watertown Reformer issue for July 2, 1863

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http://jefferson.nygenweb.net/cwbmoffett.htm updated March 7, 2009