Patrick Akin

He came to America with his family in about 1855. On 1 May 1861 at about 18 years old he enlisted in Poughkeepsie, and he mustered as Private, Company E, 30th New York Infantry on 1 June. He was appointed Color Corporal, probably by August 1862. At Manassas, VA on 30 August ...

All fear is gone, and the singing of bullets is music that makes us mad for the fray. The flag with its colors bearer goes down, but the brave Patrick Akin takes it up and holds it to "the battle and the breeze." Thirty six bullets go through its folds and the staff is shattered to pieces with a shell ...

He was with his Company in action in the Miller Cornfield [map] at Antietam on 17 September 1862.

He was promoted to Sergeant on 1 November 1862, served afterward as regimental Color Sergeant, and mustered out with his Company on 18 June 1863 in Albany.

On 11 August 1863 he enlisted in Poughkeepsie again, as a Private in Company B of the 16th New York Heavy Artillery. He was appointed Corporal on 12 December. By July 1864 the regiment was serving in combat as infantry in Virginia. He was promoted to Sergeant on 21 July 1865 and mustered out with his Company on 21 August 1865 in Washington, DC.

He was living with his parents in Troy, NY in 1865 and was a laborer and builder there on his own by 1875. He worked at the Burden Iron Works in Troy and by 1905 he was working as a stone crusher (?) in a quarry. He applied for a veteran's pension in 1892.

His basic service from the State of New York.1. Thanks to G-G-Grandson Mark Madden for the pointer to Patrick and details of his service. Mark noted that Patrick told his grandson about being in the famous Cornfield at Antietam, and he, in turn, related the story to Mark. The quote above is from the History of the 30th New York State Volunteers (c. 1895), a manuscript by John Bryson (formerly of Company C) now in the NY State Library. A partial transcription by Mr. Madden is online [pdf] from the NY State Military Museum. Personal details from family genealogists and the NY State Census of 1865, 1875, and 1905. His gravesite is on Findagrave.

His name also seen in military and census records as Patrick Akins and Patrick Aikin, Aiken, and Aikins.

He married Irish-born Catherine "Kate" Manning (1844-1916) in 1867 and they had as many as 5 children.

07/17/1843; Galway, IRELAND

13 April 1915; Troy, NY; burial in Saint Joseph's Cemetery, Troy, NY