Louis Souvey

Age 34, he enlisted at Long Island for serve three years and mustered in as Private, Company E, 42nd New York Infantry on 22 June 1861.

He was mortally wounded in action on 17 September 1862.

He died of wounds on 22 September 1862. In December, his Captain, Thomas Abbott, wrote a letter in response to a request for information about him:

... I am sorry I cannot inform you whether he is alive or not. When we first engaged the enemy, my command, being the third company in line, were resting on high mound, or rise of ground, which exposed them to the raking fire of the enemy. There the brave Louis fell with several others, badly wounded. Seeing that I was fast losing my men I advanced the remainder of my command about ten paces off the high ground, into a hollow, where there was some cover.

There I had the misfortune to fall myself, being shot through the thigh, from which I was still confined to my bed on the following day. When I was carried off the field I was informed that Louis had been taken to one of the hospitals adjacent to the battle field and that he was dangerously wounded. I have not heard from him since but I trust that he is still living for I was much endeared to him. He attended to my mess and took care of my tent during our campaign on the Peninsula, which relieved him of much hard labor and picket duty. I found a faithful honest fellow and as brave a man that ever shouldered a musket. You can receive information whether he died there or was sent to hospital by writing to Lieut. E. R. Pierce of the Regt, Falmouth, Va., 2nd Army Corps.

I have written for a list of the wounded and dead but have not yet received it. Inquire for Louis Souvey as his name is thus spelled on the roll. Hoping that he is spared ...

Basic information from State of New York1. The letter quoted above originally from the National Archives, transcribed online by John Banks in a fine post about the search for Louis Souvey. He left his widow Ellen and 9 year old daughter Adelaide.

c. 1827

09/22/1862; Sharpsburg, MD