From Farm to War

Clipper Ship Roscius

As described in the previous post, in 1850 during the middle of the Irish Famine, the Graham family emigrated to America aboard the ship Roscius.  They had been a farm family in County Tyrone, Ireland. James Graham was the family head. His oldest child, William Graham was still a teenager. They followed the path of James Graham's older sister Elizabeth. 

Elizabeth Graham Bell emigrated in 1827, at about age 44, from County Down, Ireland with her husband William Bell and children. The Bells ultimately settled in New York State's Finger Lakes Region on a farm in the Town of Orange in what would eventually become Schuyler County, New York. Elizabeth Graham Bell died in 1849, leaving her husband a farmer and widower.

The James Graham family ship of passage, the Roscius, reached New York City on September 18, 1850. According to the ship passenger list, William was 17, his sister Betty 'Libbie' age 12 and James, his father, 64. His mother Jane was 48 and brother John was 14. No records were found of his mother or brother after 1850. It is presumed that they perished soon after reaching America.

Settled in Schuyler County, New York

In 1855, all remaining members of the family were living in Schuyler County, New York. James Graham was living on the Bell farm with his brother-in-law, William Bell. William Graham, was a boarder with Enoch Webster, wife and family, including 3 adult daughters and a son. Sister Libbie was living on the farm of the Andrew Scobey, who had adopted her.

In 1860, William Graham was working as a farmer in Orange, Schuyler Co., NY. He was living on the farm of Thomas Boyes and wife Mary and their seven children ages 10 to 24. Mary was his cousin, the daughter of William Bell. In 1860 sister Libbie was still living with the Scobey's and listed as a domestic servant in the census.

Enlistment and Service in the Union Army

William Graham War Record

The American Civil war broke out in April 1861 when secessionist forces attacked Fort Sumter in South Carolina. On July 18, 1862 in the City of Elmira, New York, William Graham enlisted in the Union Army. Elmira is a small city south of the Finger Lakes and just north of the Pennsylvania border.  

As was his future son, grandson and great grandson, William Graham was a tall and thin man. At the time of his enlistment, William was described as having a height of 5 feet 11 inches, light sandy complexion, blue eyes, and light hair. In a letter he said he weighed 164 pounds. 

William committed to serve three years in Co. B, 107th New York Regiment of volunteers. He was discharged on June 5, 1865 when he was mustered out with the company near Washington, D.C. He entered as a private and was discharged as a Sergeant. He was promoted to corporal on November 1, 1862 and Sergeant, on April 1, 1865. He participated in all battles with the regiment except two. 

After the Battle of Antietam in September 1862 the regiment marched to Harper's Ferry where they made their camp on top of Maryland Heights.  Maryland Heights was on the north side of the Potomac River and overlooked Harper's Ferry. An important military arsenal was located within Harper's Ferry. 

On the heights William's regiment helped build gun emplacements, spending many of their days cutting down trees for that purpose.  It was here that disease struck the regiment hard and for the period ending November 8, 1862, a total of 30 men died.

William became quite sick in December 1862 during the regiment's march to Fredericksburg, Virginia. He was sent to St. Paul’s Hospital in Alexandria, Virginia on December 19, 1862. He was transferred on Feb. 18, 1863 to the USA General Hospital, Fort Schuyler, New York Harbor. The battles fought by the 107^th regiment that William missed - Chancellorsville (April 29 - May 6, 1863) and Gettysburg (July 1-3, 1863) - occurred while he was hospitalized from December 1862 until August 1863. 

The posts that follow present William Graham's experience in the Civil War as documented through the letters he wrote to his sister Libby and other relatives living back home in Schuyler County, New York.