St. Andrew, Dennis > Charles St. Andrews

PRIVATE CHARLES ST. ANDREWS

142^nd NEW YORK VOLUNTEER INFANTRY/COMPANY C

Great Grandfather of Brother Dennis St. Andrew

                           3^rd Great Grandfather of Brothers Patrick & Dale Mc Ritchie

PRIVATE CHARLES ST. ANDREWS

142^nd NEW YORK VOLUNTEER INFANTRY/COMPANY C

Great Grandfather of Brother Dennis St. Andrew

                           3^rd Great Grandfather of Brothers Patrick & Dale Mc Ritchie

Charles St. Andrews was born in Ogdensburg, St. Lawrence County New York in 1839. The county is named for the Saint Lawrence River which divides New York State and Canada.  Charles was one of eleven children born to Charles and Laura St. Andrews.  He grew up in Ogdensburg and on the 1860 census he is listed as 20 years old with the occupation of butcher.  On August 14, 1862 Charles St. Andrews was enlisted for 3 years by Captain James D. Ransom into Company C of the 142^nd New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment (The St. Lawrence County Regiment).   He married Bridget Ryan on September 14^th, 1862.  The 142^nd Regiment, including Charles, rendezvoused at Ogdensburg, and was there mustered into the U. S. service on Sept. 29, 1862, for three years. The regiment left for Washington on Oct. 6 and shortly thereafter was joined by Newton Martin Curtis, later to be know as the “Hero of Fort Fisher” and Congressional Medal of Honor winner for actions at the second battle of Fort Fisher. Curtis transferred to the 142nd New York Infantry, serving as a Lieutenant Colonel until his promotion to Colonel on January 21 of the next year. 

Around March 1, 1863, Charles St. Andrews found himself on guard duty during a rain and sleet storm near Upton’s Hill Virginia.  He was taken very sick with a cold and high fever brought on by the winter weather exposure and soon he started having convulsions or “fits” as known at the time.  He also was diagnosed with Asthma.  Charles continued to have fits almost daily, and was sent to the regimental hospital where he was under treatment for 5 weeks without any improvement.  In April 1863 the regiment was ordered to Suffolk, Virginia with instructions to leave behind at Chain Bridge, Virginia all sick and those unable to endure a forced march.  As a result, Charles was sent to Mount Pleasant Hospital in Washington, D.C. for further treatment on April 20^th, 1863.  *Note:  Military hospitals such as Mount Pleasant Hospital were located in the outskirts of the city, near the Soldiers' Home. Both President and Mrs. Lincoln frequently visited these hospitals to offer comfort to the soldiers.  Charles remained at Mount Pleasant Hospital until May 8^th, 1863.  Because he still suffered from Epilepsy and Asthma, Charles was discharged from the Union Army with a “Certificate of Disability for Discharge” on May 15^th, 1863 and sent back to St. Lawrence County New York.  He was officially mustered out with the 142^nd Regiment on June 17, 1865 

At Raleigh, North Carolina.  Charles’ brother Joseph also served in the Union Army with the 12^th US Infantry Regiment, Company H, 1^st Battalion.  He was captured at the Battle of Globe Tavern on August 19, 1864 while the 12^th US Infantry was defending the Weldon Railroad.  The 12^th US was attacked from the front and the rear after adjacent Union volunteer regiments put down their weapons

and fled the battle.  Joseph was taken to an as yet unknown POW camp, and his health failed due to inhumane treatment by the Confederates. He died on October 13, 1864 as paroled prisoner while in Union Hospital #1 in Annapolis, and is buried in Annapolis National Cemetery.  Joseph was eighteen years old.

                      

HISTORY OF THE NY 142nd INFANTRY REGIMENT

The following is taken from The Union army: A history of military affairs in the loyal states, 1861-65 -- records of the regiments in the Union army -- cyclopedia of battles -- memoirs of commanders and soldiers. Madison, WI: Federal Pub. Co., 1908. Volume II.

One Hundred and Forty-second Infantry.—Colonels Roscius W. Judson, Newton M. Curtis, Albert M. Barney; Lieutenant Colonels Newton M. Curtis, Albert M. Barney, William A. Jones; Majors Nathan G. Axtell, William A. Jones, William S. P. Garvin. This regiment, recruited in the counties of St. Lawrence and Franklin, rendezvoused at Ogdensburg, and was there mustered into the U. S. service on Sept. 29, 1862, for three years. The regiment left for Washington on Oct. 6, where it was stationed until April of the following year, when it was ordered to Suffolk, Va.  During its long period of active service the 142nd gloriously earned its reputation as a fighting regiment. Col. Fox in his account of this organization says: "It participated in the campaign of Gordon's division, up the Peninsula in June (1863), and in the Maryland march, soon after Gettysburg. From Warrenton, Va., the regiment went to Morris Island, S. C., arriving there on Aug. 17, 1863. In the following May, the 142nd returned to Virginia and joined Butler's Army of the James, having been assigned to the 1st brigade, 2nd division (Turner's), l0th corps. While at Cold Harbor the division was attached for a short time to the 18th corps. The losses in the regiment at Drewry's Bluff and Bermuda Hundred were 19 killed, 78 wounded and 22 missing; at Fort Harrison, 6 killed, 51 wounded and 10 missing; and at the Darbytown road, 8 killed, 90 wounded and 5 missing. In Dec., 1864, the l0th corps was merged in the newly-formed 24th corps, the regiment being placed in Curtis' (1st) brigade, Ames' (2nd) division. In the same month this division, including the 142nd, sailed with Butler on the first expedition against Fort Fisher, N. C. It landed there and when the brigade was recalled from its advance the regiment had secured a position near to and in rear of the fort—so near that Lieutenant Walling had captured a battle flag which had been shot down from the parapets. A battalion of the enemy were captured by the 117th New York, and the whole opposition of the Confederates was so weak that the officers believed that the fort could have been taken then with small loss. The statements of Gen. Curtis and other officers were so positive on this point, that Gen. Grant was largely influenced by them in his decision to order a second attempt. In this second affair, which was successful, Gen. Curtis led the assault and fell seriously wounded, but survived to enjoy his honors as the 'Hero of Fort Fisher." In recognition of his services on this occasion he was commissioned by the secretary of war a brigadier-general of U. S. volunteers, and was later thanked by the people of his state in a joint resolution of the legislature. In the engagement at Fort Fisher in Dec. 1864, the 142nd lost 20 killed and wounded; in the second attack, in Jan., 1865, it lost 79 killed and wounded. The regiment sustained no further losses in battle after Fort Fisher, but was present at the actions of Fort Anderson and Wilmington, N. C., and took part in the campaign of the Carolinas from March 1 to April 26. Under the command of Colonel Barney, it was mustered out June 17, 1865, at Raleigh, N. C., and on the 27th the veterans and recruits were transferred to the 169th N. Y. Out of a total enrollment of 1,370 the 142nd lost during service 3 officers and 126 men killed and died of wounds; 2 officers and 161 men died of disease and other causes; total deaths, 292.

  Charles St. Andrews Returns Home

After returning home in May, 1863, Charles St. Andrews never regained his health and continued to suffer from the disabilities he contracted during his Civil War service for the rest of his life.  In 1887, after several years of applying, Charles was granted a government disability pension of $4.00 a month for Epilepsy and Asthma and had to pay $25.00 to an attorney for representing him in the process.  However, he first had to prove to the government that he was not disabled prior to joining the 142^nd!   The Pension Office held hearings and sworn witnesses were called to testify on Charles’s behalf.  Among the witnesses called to testify were citizens of Ogdensburg, comrades of the 142^nd, the surgeon of the 142^nd (David McFalls) and Charles’ regimental commander, General Newton Martin Curtis of Fort Fisher fame.

Charles St. Andrews was a very active member of the Grand Army of the Republic.  He belonged to the Captain John D. Ransom Post #354 in Ogdensburg, NY.  The Post was named after the original commander of Company C of the 142^nd NY Regiment.  Captain Ransom was wounded in action on September 29^th, 1864 at Fair Oaks, Virginia and died of these wounds on November 18, 1864. 

As one of his last acts, Charles St. Andrews attended the Ransom Post Annual Reunion on April 9^th, 1894 at the Ogdensburg Armory.  On April 12, 1894, Charles St. Andrews died at age 55 in the City of Ogdensburg, NY, leaving his wife Bridget and several children including Joseph St. Andrews, grandfather of Brother Dennis St. Andrew.  His funeral and burial was held on April 15^th, 1894 and was attended by members of Ransom Post, No. 354 G.A.R and Maple City Camp of Sons of Veterans.  Burial was in the soldier’s lot of the Ogdensburg Cemetery and the burial services were conducted according to the ritual of the Grand Army (*see 3 newspaper notices below.)

(Note: General Newton Martin Curtis is also buried in the Ogdensburg Cemetery.)

     

*The following notices relating to the death of Charles St. Andrews appeared in the

Ogdensburg Journal on April 14^th and 16^th, 1894.

DEATH OF A UNION SOLDIER

Ogdensburg Journal, April 14, 1894, leaf 4 of 4 leaves

Charles St. Andrews, of this city, died of a complication of heart trouble and asthma, yesterday morning, aged about 55 years.  He was present at the armory last Monday evening at the Ransom Post reunion.  He was a member of the 142^ndregiment N. Y. S. V. and was receiving a pension for disability.  He leaves a wife and children.  The funeral will be from Norte Dame church, on Sunday at 2 p.m. Grand Army service at the grave in soldiers’ lot, Ogdensburg cemetery.

GAR Medals Worn by Charles St. Andrews

ATTENTION, RANSOM POST

Ogdensburg Journal, April 14, 1894, leaf 4 of 4 leaves

There will be a special meeting at Ransom Post, No. 354 G. A. R., at their rooms at one o’clock Sunday afternoon, for the purpose of arranging to attend the funeral of comrade Charles St. Andrews.  Let there be a full attendance.

By order of,

                            J. H. OSBORN             JOHN M. MITCHELL,

                 Adjutant                         Commander

VETERANS BURY A COMRADE

Large Procession and Impressive Ceremonies

Ogdensburg Journal, April 16, 1894, leaf 4

Ransom Post, G. A. R., and Maple City Camp of Sons of Veterans turned out in full force yesterday afternoon to attend the funeral of their late comrade, Charles St. Andrews.  The remains in charge of A. Aldrich, were taken to Notre’ Dame church where funeral services were held, Rev. Father LaRose officiating.  From the church the remains were taken for interment to the solders’ plot in the Ogdensburg cemetery.  A large procession made up of the members of Ransom Post and the Sons of Veterans, in double file, and carriages extending for One-third of a mile, followed the remains to the cemetery, where the burial services were conducted according to the impressive ritual of the Grand Army.  Thus one by one the Union veterans are dropping out.