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Even though there were no actual Civil War battles fought in Clinton County, the impact on our local area was great. Clinton County sent over 5,000 men into battle, when, at the time, the population of Clinton County as reported by the 1860 Federal Census was just over 37,000. Many did not return, some who did were greatly wounded and all had memories that would follow them forever.

In February 2011, the Clinton County Historical Association formed a committee to commemorate the Sesquicentennial of this important event in the history of the United States.

We decided to publish a book including a list of those soldiers who enlisted in Clinton County, listed by the community where they enlisted and a separate list of Civil War veterans who are buried in local cemeteries by cemetery.

We researched many sources for information but there are many more. This book is meant to be a compilation of the information we have been able to find and a place for families and researchers to start or add to their search for their ancestors. We hope that anyone who uses this book finds it helpful in their research. If you find additional information or something we have incorrect or missed, please let us know.

Another part of our project is to find and mark the headstones of the Civil War Veterans buried in Clinton County. The Clinton County American Legion donated the money to purchase small stickers that say, “Civil War Veteran”, to be affixed to the headstone. These stickers do not deface the stones in any way. In 2013, Eagle Scout applicants, John Pelkey and Mathew Orr, took on this project in the Towns of Champlain, Mooers, Chazy and Plattsburgh. The rest of the County was covered by other volunteers. 

Some towns took on their own projects identifying the Veterans in their own towns (i.e. Town of Plattsburgh and Schuyler Falls). Pictures of soldiers and letters between soldiers and their families and others can be found at the following museums: Clinton County Historical, the Kent Delord House, Alice T. Miner, Special Collections at SUNY Plattsburgh, Plattsburgh Public Library, County Historian, and Municipal Historians. 

As part of the mission of the Clinton County Historical Association to preserve and publicize the history of Clinton County, free copies of our books will be given to all Municipal Historians, the Clinton County Historian, the Northern New York American Canadian Genealogical Society, the New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Institute, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, State University of New York at Plattsburgh Feinberg Library Special Collections, the Plattsburgh Public Library and the Clinton County American Legion/Veterans Service Agency.

Short profiles of Civil War Veterans appear weekly on the Clinton County, NY, Civil War Record 1861-1865 Facebook page. Use the Facebook search feature to look for a profiled veteran.

Facebook page linkhttps://www.facebook.com/clintoncountynycivilwar

 

CIVIL WAR SESQUICENTENNIAL COMMITTEE

Geri Favreau, Chairperson/Researcher
Julie Dowd, Editor/Researcher
Vickie Evans, Expert on Clinton County’s Civil War effort
Major G. William Glidden, Ret., Military Historian
Helen Nerska, CCHA President
Melissa Peck, CCHA Director/Curator
Bob St. John, Researcher/Clinton County Legion Commander